Infusion Therapy

Infusion therapy is when medication is administered through a needle or catheter and is often prescribed when someone’s condition is so severe that oral medication cannot effectively treat the condition, such as cancers, blood disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infections.

The cost for infusion therapy varies across settings:

  • Clinics – Clinic infusions may take place in a dedicated center or a physician’s office.
  • Homes – Patients may choose to have their infusion therapy administered in their home by registered nurses and pharmacists, directed by a physician. This service may be referred to as an Ambulatory Infusion Suite (AIS) of the home infusion therapy provider.
  • Hospitals – Infusion services can be delivered in an inpatient or outpatient setting, including cancer centers and ambulatory infusion clinics.
  • Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) – Healthcare settings that provide same-day surgery care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures, can also administer infusion therapy services.
  • Mixed Mode – Combination of settings.

How to Use This Report

We calculated the median payments for one unit of a drug and its administration via needle in an IV, for four high cost, high utilization infusion therapy services:

Code Drugs Brand Names Use
J1569 Gammagard Liquid Injection (500 mg) Gammagard Liquid® Protects against infection in immune system disorders
J1745 Infliximab Injection Remicade® Minimizes inflammation
J3010 Fentanyl Citrate Injection Treats severe pain
J7120 Ringers Lactate Infusion (up to 1000 cc) Restores fluids and electrolytes

Methodology

The display shows median payments statewide across all insurers for infusion therapy services administered from April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023, using data from MHDO's All-Payers Claims Database (APCD). Information on the uninsured or public payors Medicare and Medicaid (MaineCare) are not included.

Regardless of your health insurance, talk with your health care provider to see if receiving infusion therapy in a less expensive setting is an option.