Patient FAQs

Infusion Therapy Questions

View a list of commonly asked patient questions below. Option Care Health has specially trained nurses, pharmacists and dietitians who are available to answer any additional inquires about your prescribed therapy, 24/7/365.

If your doctor or healthcare provider has prescribed infusion therapy for you or your loved one, you may be referred to receive treatment at home or an alternate treatment site from Option Care Health. Whether you’re new to infusion therapy or just a new patient of ours, we understand that you might have questions about how infusion therapy works and what our staff can do for you.

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Infusion therapy involves the administration of medication through a needle or catheter. It is usually prescribed when a patient’s condition cannot be treated with oral medication. Read more about infusion therapy treatments.

As the nation’s largest infusion provider, we are uniquely positioned to treat patients in the safe environment of their own homes and our alternate infusion suites (AIS). We’ve set up a web page that’s regularly updated with the current news regarding COVID-19. Be sure to check back for updates as we continue monitoring this dynamic situation.

Infusion therapy can be used to treat a variety of acute or complex conditions. This type of treatment is effective in treating chronic conditions in patients that struggle to take medication orally. Discuss your desired treatment plan with your healthcare provider and see if you’re a candidate for infusion therapy.

There are infusion therapy and emerging therapy treatment plans that can be administered to patients of all ages to treat and manage a variety of conditions. Infusion therapy can treat infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, nutritional or gastrointestinal disorders, cancer and hematological disorders, immune deficiencies, hemophilia and can even help patients manage symptoms from advanced illnesses. Infusion therapy is also used to provide pre and post-transplantation support.

Depending on the services needed, home and alternate site infusion care is covered by most major insurance companies. Before receiving infusion therapy treatment, your insurance coverage will need to be verified. Ask the facility that is managing your infusion therapy treatment about any available reimbursement programs or financial assistance.

Infusion therapy used to take place exclusively in hospitals but is now available to patients at infusion therapy centers, ambulatory suites or at home. Experienced nurse practitioners trained in infusion therapy will administer the medication. Insurance companies generally require clinicians to be accredited prior to administering treatment.

The duration of infusion therapy could take several hours between preparation and administration. Timing for treatment can also depend on your condition and where you are receiving infusion therapy.

Home and alternate site infusion therapy is a proven, safe and effective alternative to hospital inpatient care.[*]Bhole, M. V., Burton, J., & Chapel, H. M. (2008). Self-infusion programmes for immunoglobulin replacement at home: Feasibility, safety and efficacy. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America,28(4), 821-832. [*]Souayah, N., Hasan, A., Khan, H., et al. (2011). The safety profile of home infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with neuroimmunologic disorders.Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease, 12(suppl 4), S1-10. For most people, receiving treatment at home or in an alternate treatment setting, like an infusion suite, is preferable to hospital inpatient care. It can provide comfort and convenience for patients and offers less interruption to their daily activities. It can also be a cost-effective alternative to expensive hospital stays.[*]Home infusion therapy: Differences between Medicare and private insurers’ coverage. (2010, June). United States Government Accountability Office Report to Congressional Requesters. Accessed July 23, 2012: http://www.gao.gov/assets/310/305261.pdf. [*]Einodshofer, M. (2012). A plan for medical specialty medications – increase member access, affordability and outcomes while decreasing plan costs. Presented at: 2012 Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute Annual Drug Benefit Conference; 2012 Feb. 22-24; Scottsdale, Ariz.

Option Care Health specializes in providing a wide range of home infusion therapies, including but not limited to:

AI – Anti-infective infusion therapy (antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral therapy)

NS – Nutrition support infusion therapy (enteral and parenteral nutrition)

IG – Immunoglobulin infusion therapy (immunodeficiency and autoimmune therapy)

HF – Heart failure infusion therapy (inotropic therapy)

BD – Bleeding disorders infusion therapy (factor replacement therapy)

We work closely with doctors and healthcare providers to clinically manage patients with a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, including but not limited to:

  • Infectious diseases
  • Nutritional/gastrointestinal disorders
  • Cancer and hematological disorders
  • Primary immune deficiencies
  • Hemophilia
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • End-stage heart failure
  • Pre- and post-transplantation support

The decision to receive infusion therapy in the home or at an alternate site is made between you and your doctor or healthcare provider. Several factors are considered before a patient can receive infusion therapy in the home, including the patient’s and/or caregiver’s desire and willingness to comply with therapy and the presence of a safe and appropriate home environment.

Once a patient is discharged from the hospital and ready to receive therapy outside of the hospital setting, we will schedule an infusion appointment at the patient’s convenience. The infusion medication is then mixed in a local, accredited Option Care Health branch pharmacy that meets all industry safety and sterility standards. The medication is delivered to the patient and is administered by an experienced nurse specifically trained in infusion therapy.

Option Care Health regularly cares for patients who travel, work, coach baseball, play basketball, and do just about anything you can think of while on infusion therapy. We have state-of-the-art infusion devices that are lightweight and portable and require only a backpack, purse, or even a pocket for transport. Our nationwide network of nurses and pharmacies have the capability to support all of your infusion therapy needs while you travel for work or pleasure within the United States. Read more about traveling while receiving infusion therapy treatments.

Home and alternate site infusion care is covered by most insurance companies. Option Care Health is contracted with more than 800 health plans and will work with your insurance company to obtain patient benefit verification and authorization before starting treatment. Learn more about insurance coverage for infusion therapy.

There are no specific regulations requiring an infusion provider to become accredited. However, in many instances, insurance companies require providers to be accredited to serve their patients. Accreditation ensures that the specialty infusion provider meets or exceeds all industry standards. All Option Care locations are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).