Patient choice has always been the cornerstone of my beliefs. In 2016, Congress decided that people who are eligible for Medicare due to a diagnosis of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) would become eligible to enroll in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans beginning January 1, 2021. MA is an option under Medicare to receive coverage through a private…

Americans living with chronic diseases often face discriminatory practices by health plans, making it difficult to access care. This is particularly true for those living with kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease. The kidney community celebrated passage of the 2016 21st Century Cures Act, which allowed for both newly diagnosed and existing ESRD patients to…

Since COVID-19 reached the U.S., normal day-to-day life has come to an unprecedented, screeching halt. While work, school and commerce have slowed, what we have learned—and continue to learn—about COVID-19 is moving at what seems like light speed. Several short months ago, few people were wearing masks in public because we assumed only those individuals…

In the months since the novel coronavirus first began infecting individuals in the United States, Americans – health care professionals, researchers, and the public alike – have received a rapid and ever-changing education in the medical science on this devasting virus. What we initially understood as primarily a respiratory illness has proven itself to be…

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…