Dialysis Patient Citizens Critical of Dialysis Facility Compare’s Five-Star Rating System
Nephrology News & Issues August 7, 2014 In a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Dialysis Patient Citizens expressed concern about the implementation of Dialysis Facility Compare’s new five-star rating system. “We applaud CMS’ well-intentioned efforts to try to simplify Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC) for consumers,…
Bipartisan Legislation Built With Quality Patient Care in Mind
Published by Roll Call LaVarne Burton, Lori Hartwell, Hrant Jamgochian and Bruce Skyer August 6, 2014 Although Americans might struggle to find consensus on many policy issues related to health care, when faced with a serious health issue we unite behind the common goal of helping those living with it. Policymakers, health officials and the…
DaVita Lobbies Against Dialysis Star-Rating Program’s Bell Curve, Measures
Published by Inside Health Policy John Wilkerson August 4, 2014 Chain dialysis company DaVita was taken by surprise when CMS recently introduced a star-rating program for dialysis facilities, and the company is urging the agency to make major changes to the program, which takes effect in October. DaVita executives said they support programs that rate…
Dialysis 5-Star Rating: The Curse of the Bell Curve
Published by Acumen Terry Ketchersid July 28, 2014 Readers of this blog are no doubt familiar with the complexities of providing medical care to patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). This patient population suffers with significant comorbidity and requires substantial medical attention. Within this context, these vulnerable patients consume a relatively large proportion of…
Dear Colleagues: Co-Sponsor the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2014
Published by Rep. Tom Marino & Rep. John Lewis July 18, 2014 Dear Colleagues, We invite you to join us as cosponsors of H.R. 4814, the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2014. This legislation would advance research and treatment options related to chronic kidney disease. Today more than one in…
Renal Support Network Statement Re: H.R. 4814—The Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2014
I am the founder and president of the Renal Support Network (RSN). I have had kidney disease since 1968; I spent 13 years on dialysis and have received four kidney transplants. I am very grateful for the Medicare program as it has saved my life and the lives of countless people who have kidney disease….
Kidney Care Partners Expresses Concern About Proposed Rule for ESRD Payments
Published by Nephrology News July 7, 2014 Kidney Care Partners said they are concerned that a combination of flat payments and increased regulatory pressures proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may negatively impact stability and affect quality of care in Medicare’s end-stage renal disease program. KCP is a coalition of kidney patient…
Medicare ESRD Payments To Be Flat in 2015
Published by MedPage Today Joyce Frieden July 7, 2014 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to keep payments for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) care virtually flat in 2015. In its proposed rule CMS said it would increase total payments to all ESRD facilities in 2015 by an estimated 0.3% compared with 2014. However,…
Kidney Care Community Plans Careful Review of CMS’ Proposed Rule with Goal of Ensuring Continued Quality Improvement and Economic Stability
Kidney Care Partners (KCP) expressed concern that a combination of flat payments and increased regulatory pressures proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) may negatively impact stability and affect quality of care in Medicare’s end-stage renal disease (ESRD) program. KCP is a coalition of patient advocates, clinicians, care professionals, dialysis providers, researchers,…
Small Pay Increase for Dialysis Clinics in Proposed Rule for 2015
Published by Nephrology News July 3, 2014 A proposed rule released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 2 projects that the updates in the End-Stage Renal Disease Program’s payment bundle for 2015 would increase payments to dialysis facilities by 0.3% to 0.5%, while rural facilities will receive a decrease of 0.5%. CMS…