The Community Oncology Alliance board of directors released a position statement opposing the home infusion of chemotherapy, cancer immunotherapy, and cancer treatment supportive drugs because of serious patient safety concerns.
The home infusion of cancer treatments by a provider who may not be a trained oncology nurse and may not recognize or be prepared to treat any of the serious adverse reactions that frequently occur is of significant concern, the statement said.
Many of the side effects caused by cancer treatment can have a rapid, unpredictable onset that places patients in incredible jeopardy and can even be life-threatening. Home infusion negates the benefits of the expertise and team approach to cancer care, which are the hallmarks of community oncology, within facilities specifically designed for safe and effective cancer drug infusions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all health care providers and care settings to dramatically adjust operations. Independent, community oncology practices have quickly adapted and are taking extreme measures to keep their facilities and providers COVID-19 free so that their patients in active treatment can be assured of a safe environment. The recent, major expansion of telehealth services and relaxation of regulations has provided oncologists with a powerful tool to do this by monitoring patients and ensuring that only those that are in urgent need of treatment come into the practice.
The COA home infusion position statement notes that there are other medical specialties and diseases where the infusion of Medicare Part B drugs at home may be reasonable during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the position is currently limited to opposition for the home infusion of cancer treatments.
