Growing Nephrology Nursing Workforce Crisis Demands Policy Attention
A perfect storm of external and internal factors has combined to worsen an already dire nursing shortage nationwide, particularly in the field of nephrology: a rapidly aging population and workforce, increased levels of burnout among nurses, and the overall impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The situation has become a crisis for our nation’s healthcare community….
This World Kidney Day, Kidney Care Partners Remains Committed to Ensuring Access to Quality Kidney Care and Prevention Resources
WASHINGTON – Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s leading kidney care multi-stakeholder coalition representing patient advocates, physician organizations, health professional groups, dialysis providers, researchers and manufacturers – marked World Kidney Day to emphasize its key policy objectives to improve workforce development, drive kidney care innovation, support disease prevention, and restore statutory protections for patients living with…
The medical ‘heroes’ who help save the lives of kidney-dialysis patients when massive storms hit the US
On Christmas Day 2022, while most residents in upstate New York were getting ready to enjoy the festivities, Michael Sloma was on a mercy mission to save a life. The region was still reeling from a once-in-a-century blizzard that had left dozens of people dead, and Sloma was determined that a woman who needed dialysis wasn’t going…
Kidney Community Applauds Bipartisan Lawmakers’ Support for Kidney Care Innovation (KidneyX) in FY 2024 Budget
Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s largest non-profit kidney care coalition of more than 30 organizations, comprising patients, physicians, nurses, researchers, transplant coordinators, dialysis professionals, therapeutic innovators, and manufacturers – today applauded Representatives Larry Bucshon (IN-08) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) for co-signing a letter urging the…
CMS releases final rule on payments for dialysis care
Kidney Care Partners, a non-profit coalition of more than 30 organizations representing patients, dialysis professionals, physicians, nurses, researchers, therapeutic innovators, transplant coordinators and manufacturers, appreciates that CMS updated the payment rate for dialysis providers in the 2023 PPS final rule. Unfortunately, the rate increase does not address the major barriers created by the labor crisis…
Dialysis Stakeholders Say CMS Pay Bump Not Enough, Turn To Congress
Kidney care experts are concerned CMS’ unprecedented increase in pay rates for renal dialysis services didn’t account for the most updated data, and with less than 60 days remaining until the rule kicks in, the bump still isn’t enough to account for ongoing workforce shortages that have hamstrung the sector. Click here to read the…
KCP Remains Concerned that CMS Has Not Address the Labor Crisis Impacting Dialysis Patients; KCP Urges CMS To Confirm that It Will Address Barriers to the Adoption of Innovative Products in Next Year’s Rulemaking
While KCP appreciates that CMS updates the payment rate in the CY 2023 ESRD PPS, it unfortunately does not address the major barriers created by the labor crisis facing the entire kidney care community. A three percent update does not offset the more than 8 percent-plus increase in workforce costs that federal data indicate have occurred…
Contributor: Congress Must Fix Patient Protection Statute Upended by Supreme Court
Unless Congress acts, a misguided decision by the Supreme Court earlier this year could have devastating consequences for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their families nationwide. As is all too often the case in health care policy, the impact would be disproportionately felt by patients and communities of color. Click here to read the full article on…
The Kidney Transplant Ecosystem Is Ripe for Reform
For many patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), the treatment that provides the longest and best quality of life is a kidney transplant. Recently, the U.S. transplant system achieved a record milestone, with over 40,000 organ transplants performed in 2021. Despite this achievement, there are still many more people waiting years…
Kidney Community Urges Congress to Pass Bipartisan Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act to Protect Insurance Access for Individuals Living with Kidney Failure
Legislation Would Restore Four-Decade Precedent of Patient Protections to Private Insurance, Avoid Insurance Discrimination, Protect Medicare Trust Fund Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s largest non-profit, non-partisan coalition of more than 30 organizations representing patients, professional care providers, and a wide range of kidney care stakeholders – sent a letter urging Congress to pass the…