7:15am – 8:00am

Conference Registration & Networking Breakfast

 

8:00am – 8:15am

Chairperson's Opening Remarks

 

8:15am – 9:00am

Understanding Infusion Center Models: Hospital-Based, Freestanding, Physician Office and FQHC

Not all infusion centers are created equal, and understanding the regulatory and operational differences between models is crucial for success. This session breaks down the landscape:

• Key distinctions between hospital-based infusion centers, ambulatory infusion centers (AIC), ambulatory infusion suites (AIS), freestanding facilities and physician office-based programs
• Regulatory requirements and accreditation standards that vary by model including state licensure, deemed status and Medicare certification
• Financial considerations including capital requirements, overhead costs and revenue potential across different organizational structures
• Strategic advantages and limitations of each model helping you determine which approach best fits your organization's goals and patient population

 

9:00am – 9:45am

AIC vs AIS: Navigating Critical Regulatory Differences That Impact Your Operations

Confused about the difference between ambulatory infusion centers and ambulatory infusion suites? You're not alone. This session clarifies the regulatory distinctions and what they mean for your day-to-day operations including Medicare conditions for coverage, state health department oversight differences, staffing and supervision requirements, and how designation affects reimbursement rates and prior authorization processes. You'll learn when centers may qualify for one designation versus another, documentation requirements that vary between models, and common compliance pitfalls that can trigger survey deficiencies or payment denials. Understanding these differences is essential for proper licensing, avoiding regulatory issues and optimizing your revenue potential.

 

9:45am – 10:15am

Networking & Refreshments Break

 

10:15am – 11:00am

Reimbursement Strategies Across Payer Types: Medicare, Medicaid, Commercial and More

Let's talk about getting paid properly for the complex care you deliver. This session tackles reimbursement challenges unique to infusion centers:

• Medicare Part B drug and administration billing including proper coding, modifier usage and documentation requirements that support medical necessity
• Commercial payer contracting strategies to negotiate favorable rates, understanding fee schedules and addressing common denial reasons
• Medicaid reimbursement variations by state including managed care considerations and supplemental rebate programs
• Site-of-care differentials and how location impacts payment rates, patient out-of-pocket costs and payer steerage programs

 

 

11:00am – 11:45am

Infusion Revenue Cycle Excellence: From Verification to Final Payment

Revenue cycle challenges can make or break your center's financial performance. This session walks through the entire process with practical strategies for each stage including pre-treatment insurance verification and benefits investigation, prior authorization management and appeals processes when denials occur, accurate charge capture and coding for both drugs and administration, clean claims submission and denial prevention tactics, and patient financial counseling and collections. Learn how to reduce days in accounts receivable, improve clean claim rates and minimize write-offs through better processes, staff training and technology utilization.

 

11:45am – 12:30pm

Building and Retaining Your Infusion Team: Staffing Models That Work

Staffing challenges keep infusion center leaders up at night. This session addresses recruitment, retention and workforce optimization:

• Determining optimal nurse-to-patient ratios based on acuity, treatment mix and physical layout
• Creative recruitment strategies for infusion nurses, pharmacists and support staff in competitive markets
• Compensation and benefits approaches that attract top talent without breaking your budget
• Training and onboarding programs that get new staff up to speed quickly while maintaining quality and safety
• Retention tactics including career development, work-life balance and creating positive workplace culture

 

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Luncheon

 

1:30pm – 2:15pm

FQHC-Affiliated Infusion Programs: Billing, Compliance and Operational Considerations

FQHCs face unique challenges when adding infusion services. This session cuts through the complexity of operating infusion programs in the FQHC setting including Prospective Payment System (PPS) implications and when infusion services fall inside versus outside the PPS rate, proper billing approaches for separately billable drugs and administration services, compliance considerations unique to FQHC designation including sliding fee scales and governance requirements, and strategies for making infusion services financially viable within FQHC reimbursement constraints. We’ll explore practical approaches for structuring programs, documenting appropriately and working with payers to ensure proper payment for services delivered to your vulnerable patient population.

 

2:15pm – 3:15pm

Panel: Diversifying Site of Care – Hospital Outpatient, Office-Based and Home Infusion Integration

Smart infusion programs are diversifying where they deliver care based on patient needs, clinical appropriateness and financial considerations. This panel brings together leaders managing multiple infusion sites to discuss:

• Decision frameworks for determining optimal site of care for different therapies, patient populations and payer types
• Operational models for integrating hospital outpatient departments, office-based infusion suites and home infusion services
• Technology platforms and workflows that enable seamless care coordination across multiple sites while maintaining safety and quality
• Financial performance comparisons across sites including contribution margins, overhead costs and strategies for steering appropriate volume to each setting
• Patient experience considerations and communication strategies when moving patients between care settings

 

3:15pm – 3:45pm

Networking & Refreshments Break

 

3:45pm – 4:30pm

Freestanding Infusion Centers: Business Models, Market Positioning and Growth Strategies

Independent and freestanding infusion centers are capturing market share from hospitals. This session explores what makes them successful including capital requirements and financial pro formas for launching freestanding facilities, market analysis and site selection strategies that identify underserved areas and favorable payer mix, competitive positioning against hospital-based centers and physician practices, and business development tactics for building physician referral networks and payer contracts. Learn how freestanding centers are differentiating through patient experience, convenience and cost-effectiveness while maintaining clinical quality that earns physician confidence.

 

4:30pm – 5:15pm

Specialty Drug Management: Procurement, Supply Chain and Waste Reduction

Specialty drugs represent your biggest cost and greatest financial risk. This session tackles procurement and management challenges:

• Buy-and-bill versus alternative specialty pharmacy models including financial trade-offs and operational implications
• Vendor selection and negotiation tactics for specialty drugs, securing favorable pricing and payment terms
• Inventory management approaches that balance drug availability with minimizing waste and carrying costs
• Drug shortage management including identifying alternatives and communicating with patients and providers
• Waste reduction strategies for expensive biologics including dose rounding, vial sharing and proper handling

 

5:15pm

End of Day One