New Code of Ethics Outlines Home Infusion Industry's Commitment to Delivery of High Quality Patient Care

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) today launched industry-wide Standards for Ethical Practice that reflect the industry's commitment to the delivery of safe, high quality infusion therapy and reaffirm members' pledge to conduct business operations with the highest level of integrity.  

The new standards, developed by a team of industry leaders comprised of clinicians, healthcare providers, and compliance experts, set clear expectations within the industry on ethical patient care and business practices.  

"The standards validate what home infusion providers have done and continue to do – operate with the highest level of ethical practice and regard for the quality of patient care," said Lynn Giglione, NHIA Board Chair and CEO, Chartwell Pennsylvania.  "By embracing these standards, my company and other NHIA members, are communicating to key stakeholders that we are acting in good faith and with high integrity, implementing sound and consistent business practices and upholding the standards of the profession," she added.

In recent years, healthcare legislation has included increasingly more stringent requirements to ensure services are provided legally, ethically and in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.  The establishment of the standards demonstrates the Association's and its members' commitment to Congress and to regulatory agencies to operate in an ethical, legal, patient-centric manner.

"Organizations must hold themselves accountable for the way in which they conduct their business and their responsibilities to the communities they serve.  The standards formalize the home infusion industry's long-time commitment to operating with integrity and differentiate the industry from those who seek to abuse the system," said NHIA Board member Lisa Getson, Executive Vice President, Government Relations and Corporate Compliance, Apria Healthcare/Coram Specialty Infusion Services, who headed the effort to create the standards.  "It is imperative that we make this commitment clear, in our words and our actions," she added.

"Healthcare providers have an obligation to act in ways that will merit the trust, confidence and respect of patients and the broad spectrum of stakeholders," said Russell Bodoff, NHIA President and CEO.  "We expect home infusion providers to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in all aspects of clinical practices and business operations.  By creating The NHIA Standards for Ethical Practice, the industry is committing to embody an exemplary system of values and ethics," he added.

Until the 1980s, patients receiving infusion therapy had to remain in an inpatient setting.  Heightened emphasis on healthcare cost-containment, as well as technological developments in the clinical administration of the therapy, led patients and physicians to embrace home infusion therapy as a safe and effective alternative to inpatient care with improved overall outcomes.  

NHIA, based in Alexandria, VA, represents and advances the interests of organizations that provide infusion and specialized pharmacy products and services to the entire spectrum of home-based patients. It is the leading voice in representing the interests of older and disabled Medicare patients denied home infusion coverage.  For more information, visit www.nhia.org

SOURCE National Home Infusion Association