What Option Care Health Does

Option Care Health is one of the largest home infusion therapy providers in the United States. The company manages the clinical side of infusion treatment — sending nurses to your home, preparing medications, monitoring your condition, and handling the equipment and supplies you need between visits.

If your doctor prescribes home infusion therapy, you do not choose Option Care Health directly. Instead, your insurance plan, your doctor's office, or a hospital discharge planner refers you to them. Option Care Health then works with your insurance to confirm coverage and schedules your first nurse visit. The company operates in most U.S. states and handles infusions for conditions like infections, cancer, immune disorders, and nutritional support.

What matters to know upfront: Option Care Health is the service provider, not the decision-maker. Your doctor decides whether you need home infusion, and your insurance decides whether they will pay for it. Option Care Health's job is to make the treatment happen once both of those pieces are in place.

Key Takeaways

  • Option Care Health sends nurses to your home to administer infusions, manage your IV line, and teach you how to care for it between visits.
  • You do not contact Option Care Health directly — your doctor, hospital, or insurance plan refers you, and the company coordinates with your insurance to confirm coverage.
  • The company handles medication preparation, equipment delivery, supply restocking, and clinical monitoring throughout your treatment course.
  • Your out-of-pocket costs depend entirely on your insurance plan and what it covers for home infusion services.

How a Referral to Option Care Health Works

When your doctor decides you need home infusion therapy, they send a referral to Option Care Health or your insurance plan sends you there. You will receive a phone call from an Option Care Health intake coordinator, usually within one business day. They will ask about your medical history, your current medications, your home setup (whether you have a safe place for equipment storage, reliable electricity, and a working phone), and your insurance details.

During this call, Option Care Health verifies your insurance coverage and checks whether your plan requires prior authorization — a formal approval from your insurance company before treatment can begin. If prior authorization is needed, Option Care Health handles submitting that paperwork to your insurance. This step can take a few days to a week, depending on how quickly your insurance responds.

Once insurance approval is confirmed, Option Care Health schedules your first nurse visit. This visit is usually longer than follow-up visits because the nurse will place or assess your IV line, teach you how to care for it, show you how to recognize signs of infection or problems, and go over your medication schedule. Subsequent visits are typically shorter and focus on administering the infusion and checking your condition.

What Happens During and Between Nurse Visits

On each visit day, a licensed nurse from Option Care Health comes to your home at a scheduled time. The nurse checks your vital signs, examines your IV site, cleans and dresses the line if needed, and administers your infusion medication. The visit length depends on what you are receiving — some infusions take 30 minutes, others several hours. The nurse stays with you during the infusion to monitor for any reactions or problems.

Between visits, you are responsible for basic care of your IV line: keeping the dressing clean and dry, watching for signs of infection (redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage around the site), and following any restrictions your nurse gave you (like avoiding certain activities or keeping the line dry during showers). Option Care Health provides written instructions and a 24-hour phone line you can call if you have questions or concerns between visits.

Option Care Health also handles the logistics: they prepare your medications, arrange delivery of supplies and equipment to your home, restock supplies as needed, and keep records of each visit and your response to treatment. If your condition changes or your doctor adjusts your medication, Option Care Health coordinates with your doctor to update your treatment plan.

Insurance Coverage and What You May Owe

Option Care Health works with most major insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers. However, what your insurance covers varies widely. Some plans cover the full cost of home infusion services; others require you to pay a copay per visit, a coinsurance percentage, or a deductible. A few plans do not cover home infusion at all, which means you would need to explore other options with your doctor.

When Option Care Health calls during intake, they will tell you what your insurance plan covers and what you may owe out of pocket. If you have questions about those costs, ask to speak with their billing department before your first visit. If you do not have insurance or your plan does not cover home infusion, ask your doctor or hospital social worker whether there are other programs or payment options available.

Option Care Health also participates in some patient information programs if cost is a barrier, though availability depends on the specific medication you are receiving and the manufacturer's program rules. Your nurse or care coordinator can tell you whether your medication has a program you might be able to use.

Switching Providers or Stopping Treatment

If you are unhappy with Option Care Health's service or want to switch to a different home infusion provider, you can request a change. Contact your insurance plan or your doctor's office and ask them to refer you to a different provider instead. Your doctor can also change the referral if they believe another provider is a better fit for your needs. The transition usually takes a few days while the new provider gets set up and the old provider transfers your records.

If your doctor decides you no longer need home infusion therapy, they will tell Option Care Health to discontinue services. The company will schedule a final visit to remove your IV line (if it is a temporary line) and make sure you know what to do if any problems arise after treatment ends. If you have equipment at home that belongs to Option Care Health, they will arrange to pick it up.

What to Expect From Your Care Coordinator

Option Care Health assigns a care coordinator to your case — this is usually a nurse or clinical staff member who knows your treatment plan and is your main point of contact. Your care coordinator schedules visits, answers clinical questions, communicates with your doctor if anything changes, and helps troubleshoot problems. They are different from the nurse who comes to your home; the coordinator manages the overall plan while the visiting nurse handles the hands-on care.

You should have your care coordinator's phone number and know how to reach them during business hours. If you have a question about your treatment, a concern about your IV site, or need to reschedule a visit, calling your care coordinator is usually faster than calling the main Option Care Health line. Many coordinators also check in with you by phone between visits to see how you are doing and catch any problems early.

Common Reasons Home Infusion Might Not Work Out

Home infusion therapy requires a stable home environment and your active participation in care. If you live in a place without reliable electricity, running water, or a working phone, home infusion may not be safe. If you are unable to follow instructions about keeping your IV line clean and dry, or if you cannot be home for scheduled visits, your doctor may recommend a different treatment setting instead.

Some people also find that the time commitment — having a nurse visit several times a week for weeks or months — does not fit their life. If that is the case, talk to your doctor about whether there are other treatment options, such as going to an infusion center instead. Your doctor can help you weigh the trade-offs between home infusion (more convenient, but requires you to be home) and center-based infusion (less convenient, but you do not have to manage an IV line at home).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use Option Care Health if my doctor refers me there?

No. Your doctor can refer you to a different home infusion provider if you prefer, or you can ask your insurance plan which providers are in-network. However, if your insurance plan has a contract with Option Care Health and you choose an out-of-network provider, you may pay more out of pocket. Talk to your insurance plan or doctor's office about your options.

What if I miss a scheduled nurse visit?

Call your care coordinator as soon as you know you will miss a visit. Depending on your medication and condition, missing a dose may be safe or it may need to be rescheduled quickly. Your care coordinator will tell you what to do and help you find a new time. Repeated missed visits may result in Option Care Health discontinuing service, so communication is important.

Can Option Care Health provide infusions on weekends or evenings?

Some Option Care Health locations offer extended hours or weekend visits, but it depends on where you live and your specific needs. Ask your care coordinator what scheduling options are available in your area. If you need infusions at times when Option Care Health cannot accommodate you, your doctor may need to refer you to a different provider or a different treatment setting.

What happens if I have a problem with my IV line outside of business hours?

Option Care Health provides a 24-hour nurse hotline for urgent questions or problems. If your IV line becomes painful, swollen, or shows signs of infection, or if you cannot get your medication to flow, call that number right away. The nurse can tell you whether you need to go to an emergency room or whether it can wait until your next scheduled visit.

Will Option Care Health continue my infusions if I change insurance plans?

It depends on whether your new insurance plan covers home infusion and whether Option Care Health is in-network with that plan. When your insurance changes, tell Option Care Health right away so they can verify coverage under your new plan. If your new plan does not cover Option Care Health or home infusion at all, your doctor will need to refer you elsewhere or discuss alternative treatment options with you.