IVIG Access Act

Once a month I used to go to the hospital. I would be put into an old emergency room type area. There were several 'rooms', the kind that had curtain. In the center of the rooms would be the nursing station. I would be a room next to other patients who were having various medical procedures done, such as a colonoscopy. My nurse would sometimes be assigned up to eight patients. I would have to walk through all this to go to the restroom. The recliner or gurney that I was given would not be very comfortable. My nurse would often try to rush me through my infusion. Napping was hard becuase there was just so much going on and the various sounds, beeps and alarms.

It was in this environments that I would stay for hours on the day that my immune system was the weakest. With all the germs, diseases, and such that formed a perfect situation for me to get really sick is where I would get my IVIG, or my immunogobulin infusion. The reason for this was due to my insurance restrictions. This was the only place that I could get my IVIG treatment covered through Medicare and Medi-Cal.

In January of 2013 the Medicare IVIG Access Act (HR 1845) was signed into law by President Obama. This act created a three year demonstration project to show congress that home infusion is more cost effective than having patients like me have our infusions done in other environments. In the past, Medicare would not cover the costs of home nursing and infusion services. That is why I was having to go to the hospital to get my infusions. Now, due to the Medicare IVIG Access Act, I get my IVIG done at home.

At home I am not in a cesspool of bacteria and such like I was at the hospital. My nurse has only one patient- ME. That means that if I need help during my infusion, my nurse doesn't have to juggle my care with several other patients. My infusion goes at the rate I need it to be, and it is not rushed. Also, at home I am in a more relaxed environment. I can watch tv, sleep in my own comfortable bed, and so on. I have found that getting my infusion is much better than having them at the hospital or infusion center

If you are on Medicare and still get your infusions at a hospital or infusion center, you should find out if you are eligible for participation in the Medicare IVIG Access Act Demonstration Project. You can apply for this program at www.medicarenhic.com.