Class Code 8852
Home Infusion Therapists
Class Code 8852 covers clinicians who prepare, administer, monitor and document infusion therapy in patients' homes. This classification is important because those mobile clinical duties carry distinct exposure and ergonomic risks. The approved pure premium rate for California (effective Sept 1, 2026) is $1.652 per $100 of payroll.
What Class Code 8852 Covers
This classification applies to licensed clinical professionals who perform infusion therapy outside of a fixed healthcare facility — most commonly registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational/licensed practical nurses (LVN/LPN), infusion pharmacists and other trained clinicians who set up and manage IV lines, portable infusion pumps, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and medication infusions in a patient’s residence. It includes clinical tasks performed at the bedside in private homes, travel between patient locations, and associated preparation and disposal activities done as part of the home visit (documentation, drug handling, sharps disposal). It does not cover non-clinical home health aides who only provide personal care unless they also perform IV/infusion clinical procedures. Employers should code payroll here when the primary job function is administering or monitoring infusion therapy in the home environment.
Who It Applies To
- Visiting infusion nurses (RNs, LVNs/LPNs) employed by home infusion agencies
- Home infusion pharmacy clinicians who deliver and set up infusion therapies
- Contract clinical staff who travel to patient homes to start or manage IV infusions
- Agencies that operate home infusion programs (home infusion pharmacies, home health agencies)
- Clinical supervisors and field trainers who perform infusion procedures in homes
Common Job Duties
- Assessing patients and initiating peripheral or central IV lines in a home setting
- Preparing, mixing and verifying infusion medications and TPN according to orders
- Programming, connecting and monitoring portable infusion pumps and ambulatory devices
- Teaching patients and caregivers safe pump use, line care and emergency procedures
- Managing sharps and biohazardous waste disposal and completing chain-of-custody documentation
- Traveling between patient residences and carrying medication kits, pumps and supplies
- Documenting treatments, vital signs, infusion tolerance and communicating with prescribing clinicians
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $1.652 Rate
The pure premium rate of $1.652 per $100 of payroll is the WCIRB-calculated amount that represents expected claim costs for this class. To estimate an employer's base premium, multiply taxable payroll divided by 100 by the pure premium, then apply the insurer's experience modification, policy-specific credits/penalties, premium discounts, and state assessments. Final premium is affected by your agency's claim history, payroll mix, safety programs, return-to-work outcomes, and any large or frequent claims.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Home infusion clinicians are subject to Cal/OSHA requirements including the Bloodborne Pathogens standard (Title 8 §5193) and the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) requirements (Title 8 §3203). Employers must maintain an exposure control plan, offer Hepatitis B vaccination, provide sharps safety devices and training, and keep required training and injury records. When handling hazardous drugs, follow safe-handling procedures, engineering controls and PPE consistent with USP <800> guidance and Hazard Communication obligations for transported pharmaceuticals; serious work-related injuries must be reported to Cal/OSHA within required timeframes.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8852
A PEO like Key HR helps home infusion employers by centralizing workers' comp administration, providing targeted safety templates (sharps programs, bloodborne pathogen plans, safe driving policies), and delivering training for PPE, safe patient handling and hazardous drug handling. Key HR's claims management, return-to-work coordination and pooled experience can lower experience modification impacts, speed claim resolution, and reduce overall workers' comp costs for this mobile clinical workforce.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 8852 apply to home health aides who visit clients' homes?
No — 8852 is specific to licensed clinicians who prepare and administer infusion therapy in the home. Non-clinical home health aides who provide personal care without performing IV or infusion procedures are typically classified under a different code. If aides are trained and regularly perform infusion tasks, their payroll should be coded to 8852.
What specific safety measures reduce claims and premiums for infusion staff?
Key measures include using safety-engineered sharps and needleless systems, a written exposure control plan with documented training and Hep B vaccine offers, PPE and spill procedures for hazardous drugs, ergonomics/safe patient handling programs, rigorous driving policies, and rapid post-exposure follow-up. Consistent documentation and early return-to-work options also lower claim costs and experience modification.
How can we lower our workers' comp costs if we operate a home infusion service in California?
Focus on preventing high-cost claims: invest in sharps safety devices, hazardous drug handling controls (and follow USP <800> guidance), driver and travel safety, and an IIPP with field-specific training. Partnering with a PEO like Key HR provides centralized claims advocacy, safety consultants, and consolidated payroll that can help reduce administrative burden and improve your loss history over time.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8852
- Classification
- Home Infusion Therapists
- Pure Premium Rate
- $1.652 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
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