What PharMerica Home Infusion Does
PharMerica Home Infusion is a pharmacy service that delivers IV medications and supplies to your home and coordinates the nursing visits needed to administer them. You do not go to a hospital or clinic for these treatments — a nurse comes to you on a schedule your doctor sets up. PharMerica handles the pharmacy side: filling prescriptions, storing medications at the right temperature, and shipping everything with the supplies you need to receive the infusion safely.
The service covers a range of IV therapies — antibiotics, pain medications, nutrition support, and other drugs that require infusion rather than pills. Your doctor writes the prescription and sends it to PharMerica, or your current pharmacy can transfer it. PharMerica then works with your insurance to confirm coverage, schedules your first delivery, and coordinates with a nursing agency to send someone to your home to start the IV line and monitor the infusion.
You will deal with two separate organizations: PharMerica for the medication and supplies, and a nursing agency (which PharMerica may refer you to or which your insurance may require) for the actual infusion visits. Understanding which company handles which part prevents confusion when you have questions or need to reschedule.
Key Takeaways
- PharMerica delivers IV medications and supplies to your home on a schedule your doctor sets; a separate nursing agency provides the nurse who administers the infusion.
- Your doctor's office must send the prescription to PharMerica, or your current pharmacy can transfer it — PharMerica does not pick up prescriptions from retail pharmacies.
- Insurance coverage varies by plan and medication, so PharMerica will contact your insurance before your first delivery to confirm what is covered.
- You will receive training on how to care for your IV line between visits, what signs of infection to watch for, and when to call the nursing agency or PharMerica.
- If you move, change insurance, or your doctor stops the infusion, you must notify PharMerica so they can stop deliveries and avoid wasting medication.
How to Start PharMerica Home Infusion Service
Your doctor initiates the process by sending a prescription and a written order for home infusion to PharMerica. You can find PharMerica's fax number and prescription submission portal on their website or by calling their customer service line. If you already use another pharmacy, ask them to transfer the prescription to PharMerica — do not ask them to mail it to you, because PharMerica needs it to come directly from the prescriber or the other pharmacy's system.
Once PharMerica receives the prescription, they will call you to confirm your address, insurance information, and the best times for delivery. They will also ask about any allergies, other medications you take, and whether you have a preferred nursing agency or if they should refer one. This call usually happens within one business day of receiving the prescription.
PharMerica then contacts your insurance to verify coverage. This step can take a few days if your insurance requires prior authorization — a formal approval from the insurance company before they will pay. If your insurance denies coverage or requires you to try a different medication first, PharMerica will tell you and work with your doctor to find an alternative or appeal the decision.
What Happens at Your First Delivery
PharMerica ships your medication in an insulated box with ice packs or a cooling device, depending on the drug's storage needs. The box arrives at your home on the day and time you agreed to. Inside you will find the IV medication in a bag or bottle, sterile tubing and connectors, alcohol wipes, gauze, tape, and written instructions for care. Some medications come in a pre-filled syringe or pump that you or the nurse will use; others come as a powder that the nurse mixes with liquid at your home.
The nursing agency will schedule a separate visit, usually on the same day or the next day, to place the IV line (called a peripheral line or PICC line, depending on how long you need infusions) and teach you how to use it. The nurse will show you how to flush the line with saline to keep it clear, how to change the dressing that covers the insertion site, and what to do if the line becomes painful, swollen, or leaks. They will also give you a phone number to call if you have problems between visits.
Do not open or use any medication until the nurse has arrived and confirmed the prescription matches what was ordered. If the delivery arrives and something looks damaged, the box is warm, or the medication is missing, call PharMerica when ready — they will send a replacement.
Insurance Coverage and Out-of-Pocket Costs
PharMerica bills your insurance directly for the medication and supplies. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan's deductible, copay structure, and whether the specific medication is on your plan's formulary (the list of drugs the insurance covers). Some plans cover home infusion therapy at 80 or 90 percent after you meet your deductible; others require a copay per infusion or per month.
If your insurance denies coverage, PharMerica will tell you the reason and the amount you would owe out of pocket. You can ask PharMerica to appeal the denial or work with your doctor to request an exception. Some patients may have access to for patient information programs run by the medication's manufacturer, which may cover the cost if insurance will not. PharMerica can tell you whether such a program exists for your drug.
The nursing visits are billed separately by the nursing agency, not by PharMerica. Your insurance may cover nursing visits under a different benefit (home health) than pharmacy, so ask your insurance company what your copay or coinsurance is for home nursing before the first visit.
Caring for Your IV Line Between Visits
Between infusions, you are responsible for keeping the IV line clean and flushed. The nurse will teach you to flush the line with saline solution (a salt-water mixture) at the frequency your doctor orders — usually once a day if you are not receiving daily infusions. You will use a pre-filled syringe that PharMerica includes in your delivery, or the nurse will show you how to draw saline from a vial.
Keep the dressing over the IV site dry and intact. If it gets wet, peels up, or becomes dirty, change it using the sterile gauze and tape PharMerica provides, or call the nursing agency to have them change it. Watch for signs of infection: redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or fever. If you notice any of these, call the nursing agency or your doctor right away — do not wait for your next scheduled visit.
Do not pull on the tubing or let it kink. If the line stops flowing or you cannot flush it, do not force it — call the nursing agency. A blocked line can be cleared, but forcing it can damage the line or push a clot into your bloodstream.
When to Contact PharMerica or the Nursing Agency
Contact PharMerica if your medication has not arrived by the scheduled date, if the box is damaged or warm when it arrives, if you have questions about how to use the supplies, or if you need to reschedule a delivery. PharMerica's customer service line is available during business hours, and they can usually resolve delivery issues the same day.
Contact the nursing agency if you have pain, swelling, or redness at the IV site; if you develop a fever; if the line will not flush or stops flowing; if the dressing is loose or dirty; or if you have questions about how to care for the line. Most nursing agencies have an on-call nurse available 24/7 for urgent problems.
If your doctor changes your prescription or wants to stop the infusions, tell PharMerica when ready so they do not send another delivery. Stopping a delivery takes one business day, so call as soon as you know the change is coming.
What Happens When Home Infusion Ends
When your doctor decides you no longer need IV therapy, notify PharMerica and the nursing agency at the same time. PharMerica will stop sending deliveries, and the nursing agency will schedule a final visit to remove the IV line and teach you how to care for the site as it heals. The nurse will also collect any unused medication and supplies — do not throw these away on your own.
If you are switching to a different home infusion pharmacy or a different medication, tell your doctor and the new pharmacy so they can coordinate with PharMerica to transfer your records. This prevents gaps in therapy and ensures the new provider has your medical history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use PharMerica if I live in a rural area?
PharMerica serves most areas of the United States, but delivery times and nursing availability vary by location. Call PharMerica with your zip code to confirm they deliver to your area and what the typical delivery window is. Some rural areas may have longer delivery times or limited nursing agency options.
What if I travel or need to stay somewhere else temporarily?
Tell PharMerica and the nursing agency as soon as you know you will be away. Some patients can arrange to have medication delivered to a temporary address, but this requires advance notice and may not be possible for all medications. If you are traveling, ask whether you can pick up a supply to take with you or whether the nursing agency at your destination can coordinate care.
Do I have to use the nursing agency PharMerica refers?
No. If your insurance has a preferred home health agency or you want to use a specific agency, tell PharMerica and they will coordinate with that agency instead. The nursing agency and PharMerica must communicate about your care, so make sure both organizations have each other's contact information.
What if I cannot afford my copay or out-of-pocket cost?
Ask PharMerica about patient information programs run by the medication's manufacturer. Many pharmaceutical companies offer these programs to uninsured or underinsured patients. Your doctor's office may also know of other resources or programs that can help with costs.
Can I stop and restart PharMerica service if my condition improves?
Yes. If your doctor says you can stop infusions and later decides you need them again, PharMerica can restart service. Tell your doctor and PharMerica when you are ready to resume, and they will reactivate your account and coordinate with a nursing agency for your first visit.