NEWS ARTICLES

When COVID-19 began spreading rapidly across the United States, government officials responded with stay-at-home orders, business closures, cancellations of elective procedures, and many other unprecedented measures to slow the spread of the virus. Yet, as Americans did their part to social distance and protect their neighbors and loved ones, kidney patients, and particularly those on dialysis, faced…

In times of crisis, Americans always find a way to answer the call. The COVID-19 emergency, although unique to history, is no different. We are taking necessary precautions, maintaining social distance and helping our neighbors. We are following the science, observing guidelines and working together to flatten the curve — with the hope of saving…

What we need is a new “moonshot” for kidney care — that mirrors previous initiatives to tackle cancer. We need the collective energy, focus, incentives, and resources of both government and stakeholders — to bring diagnosis, treatment, access, choice, and delivery of quality kidney care into the 21st century. This will by far be our…

Some kidney care stakeholders say the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission seems to be at odds with the administration over the need for innovation in treatments for end stage renal disease patients after commissioners at their January meeting leaned toward eliminating the transitional drug add-on payment adjustment to the ESRD pay bundle. But the payment advisors…

From the perspective of policy makers, patient advocates and health care providers, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure present the following series of important questions: How do we, as a nation, tackle the economic and physical implications of a health care epidemic that when undiagnosed or left untreated, results in loss of vital organ function…

It is a sad fact that – even as prevalent as kidney disease has become in the United States – many Americans have no idea that, albeit silently, their kidney function is deteriorating. As we know, there are often few obvious, outward signs. Genetics and race play a role; but whereas people might be aware…

As one of the costliest and physically devastating health epidemics facing our nation today, chronic kidney disease affects more than 30 million Americans, largely due to skyrocketing comorbidities like diabetes, obesity and hypertension. In addition, more than 726,000 Americans live with ESRD — a diagnosis that increases by more than 124,000 individuals every year. Caring…

The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced legislation that would improve education options and promote access to treatment for kidney disease. The Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2019 (H.R. 3912) was introduced by Representatives John Lewis, D-Georgia, and Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, and is similar to legislation introduced in the Senate…

CMS proposed a payment rule Monday (July 29) meant to encourage dialysis facilities to adopt new equipment and supplies while also increasing pay for those facilities and updating the pricing system for medical devices. “The changes we are proposing in this rule will also modernize outdated government policies to facilitate greater competition in the DME…

Americans with kidney disease are living longer, healthier lives thanks to the hard work and collaboration of the entire kidney community. Over the last decade, we have been proud to work together to improve quality, access, and choice for individuals suffering from kidney disease and kidney failure. From increasing the patient survival rate in the…