Why site of care strategy matters in infusion therapy

The growing importance of site of care in infusion therapy 

Site of care is no longer an operational afterthought in infusion therapy. The prevalence of chronic diseases, combined with more biologics and specialty therapies that require infusion, mean that expanding infusion sites of care are an important strategic lever in modern infusion care.

Home infusion and ambulatory infusion centers continue to grow faster than hospital outpatient departments, driven by payer demand, patient preference and increased clinical sophistication across alternate sites of care.¹

Research across the infusion industry shows that many patients can safely receive infusion therapy outside the hospital setting without compromising health outcomes. In addition, care delivery options improve the patient experience and reduce unnecessary costs. Therefore, it’s important for providers to consider all sites of care — ambulatory infusion suites, ambulatory infusion centers and home infusion — when prescribing.

This thought leadership piece looks at the benefits of alternative sites of care from different perspectives.

For people with chronic medical conditions who need infusion therapy — often repeatedly and over long periods of time — site of care directly shapes daily life. Travel time, parking, appointment delays and extended chair time in hospital outpatient departments can add physical and emotional strain to an already complex care journey. That’s why giving people choices of where they receive their treatment provides profound value and keeps the focus on what works best for them.

Making decisions starts with understanding. Unfortunately, many patients aren’t told that they may be able to get their infusion anywhere but the hospital. Patient education is key. If they understand their options, they can talk with their provider about which settings are right for them.

Patients who receive biweekly infusions in a hospital outpatient department reported routinely losing an entire workday navigating parking, pre-infusion lab draws, check-in delays and treatment wait times. After transitioning to an alternate site of care, appointments became more predictable and far less disruptive, allowing them to maintain work and reduce stress tied to treatment logistics.¹

In addition, patients treated in alternate sites of care experience comparable clinical outcomes while avoiding many of the logistical burdens associated with hospital settings.² For many therapies, effective care does not require a hospital environment.

Although the options are there, ultimately, the choice of where care is delivered is carefully made with a care team. To make the most of site of care options, patients, providers and infusion pharmacies collaborate to make sure the selected setting is clinically appropriate, safe and aligned with the patient’s home environment and therapy needs. Visit Optum Infusion Pharmacy or FlexCare Infusion Centers to learn more about our infusion location options.

Clinical safety remains the foundation of any infusion location decision. Studies now demonstrate that infusion therapy delivered in alternate settings such as in a home or an ambulatory infusion center or suite can achieve outcomes comparable to hospital outpatient departments when patients are properly selected and supported.¹

These care models have proven to be both safe and cost-effective. Patients in alternate settings experienced similar clinical outcomes while total cost of care was approximately 33% lower. In addition, rates of adverse events, emergency department visits and hospital admissions were comparable or lower in non-hospital settings.³

Clinical experience and maturity across the infusion industry continue to deepen. Advances in nursing specialization, pharmacy oversight, remote monitoring and standardized protocols have strengthened patient safety across alternate sites of care.

Cost variation by site of care is one of the most significant differentiators in infusion therapy. Hospital outpatient infusion departments remain the highest-cost setting, while home infusion and ambulatory settings consistently deliver care at lower total cost.

According to research, treating patients in alternate sites of care reduced total cost of care by approximately one-third compared with hospital outpatient departments.³ Infusion services delivered in home and ambulatory environments can cost 65–80% less than hospital-based infusion for comparable therapies, depending on drug class and payer structure.²

While these savings primarily benefit payers and health systems, they also support broader healthcare affordability. Because direct patient out-of-pocket savings vary by benefit design, reducing systemic cost pressure remains essential as the need for infusion treatments continues to grow.

Payers are actively seeking partners who can safely transition appropriate patients out of hospital outpatient departments and into lower-cost settings. Site of care flexibility has become a necessary capability in value-based care models.

Driven by payers, this location of care delivery redirection is a key industry tailwind.¹ Payers consistently prioritize infusion partners that offer:

• Proven clinical quality and safety
• Scalable infrastructure across multiple sites of care
• Geographic reach and consistency

This demand reflects a broader shift toward value-based care, where site of care delivery flexibility is increasingly viewed as a necessary capability rather than an optional offering. Visit our Optum Infusion Pharmacy for Payers to learn more about payer solutions.

Understanding and considering site of care options has meaningful implications for access and patient experience. However, it is important to note that some providers who are newer to practice or closely affiliated with hospital systems may not automatically consider home or ambulatory infusion suites or centers for eligible patients.

Alternate sites of care can support providers by:

• Expanding access when hospital capacity is strained
• Offering flexible scheduling for chronic therapies
• Enabling a single coordinated infusion partner across care settings

To understand the Optum site of care options and be able to confidently discuss them with your patients, contact your Optum representative or pharmacist or visit Optum Infusion Pharmacy or FlexCare Infusion Centers.

Improving the quality of care location options is only one part of the affordability equation. Out-of-pocket costs can be a barrier to care for some patients. Moving infusion treatments out of a hospital outpatient setting and into an ambulatory center or suite or home can help remove these barriers by helping patients navigate coverage, network status and financial support resources.

For example, patients transitioning from hospital outpatient departments to alternate sites can get support to help them navigate financial aid options, including access to manufacturer copay assistance programs that may not be consistently available in hospital settings. These patient support services help reduce out-of-pocket costs and improve their overall experience.

Sites of care and infusion providers are deeply interconnected. Together, they influence access, experience, outcomes and cost across the infusion-therapy continuum.

Implementing a thoughtful site of care strategy:

• Preserves safety and clinical outcomes
• Improves patient experience and convenience
• Reduces unnecessary healthcare spending
• Strengthens collaboration among payers, providers and pharmacies

Rather than identifying a single “best” site of care, the goal is smarter care placement. This focus helps make sure that each patient receives infusion therapy in the setting that best aligns with their unique clinical needs, personal circumstances and system sustainability.

Optum® Infusion Pharmacy supports smarter care placement across the infusion continuum. By offering care within multiple settings, Optum helps providers match their patients to the clinically appropriate sites they prefer. This flexibility is reinforced by specialized nursing teams, pharmacy oversight and standardized clinical protocols designed to support safety and consistency across settings.

This strategy helps payers guide patients to in-network, lower-cost settings (when clinically appropriate). In addition, dedicated care coordination and financial navigation teams help patients find ways to lower their cost of care. Together, these capabilities help Optum Infusion Pharmacy support experiences focused on the patient’s overall health and well-being and improve outcomes, all while contributing to more sustainable infusion care.

We offer:

• 1,500+ payer contracts⁵
• 28 infusion pharmacies, 25+ ambulatory infusion suites and 35+ FlexCare Infusion Centers across 19 states, enabling care across multiple settings
• Nationwide nursing coverage with 800+ home infusion nurses and 140+ contracted home health agencies, supporting patients wherever they are
• Access to 4,800+ medications, including limited-distribution drugs, supported by strong relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers⁶
• 96% satisfaction ratings with Optum Infusion Pharmacy nurses⁵

To unlock the full value of cost-effective care focused on each person’s unique needs, a smart site of care strategy and competent infusion pharmacy go hand in hand.