HHS, American Society of Nephrology partner to launch kidney care-focused accelerator
Published by Fierce Healthcare The Department of Health and Human Services is joining forces with the American Society of Nephrology to launch an accelerator for kidney care innovation. The Kidney Innovation Accelerator, or KidneyX, will begin accepting applications for its first round of funding this summer, HHS announced. In addition to providing funding to back new approaches…
Under new leadership, Kidney Care Partners tackles clinical, policy issues
Published by Healio Based on its heavy dependence on Medicare funding, kidney care advocates who want to improve clinical pathways must be savvy at understanding the nuances of policy development and funding strategy on Capitol Hill. Kidney Care Partners, an advocacy group composed of kidney care providers, professional and patient associations, manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, recently…
Trump administration proposes ‘kidney innovation accelerator program’
Published by The Hill Written by Dr. Frank Maddux Recent news surrounding the nation’s growing opioid epidemic has demonstrated how an all-hands-on-deck approach is needed when a serious national health crisis threatens the lives of Americans. The Trump administration declared opioid abuse a public health emergency, and lawmakers have enacted legislation to expand treatment and…
Public/Private Health Partnerships Are Lifesavers
Published by TownHall President Donald Trump’s decision to end cost-sharing reduction payments to insurance companies, a controversial expenditure never authorized or appropriated by Congress, has set off a series of moves in the marketplace that leaves healthcare providers and consumers more confused than ever before. Whether or not you believe these subsidies were a good…
Renal Care Facilities Get Small 2018 Medicare Pay Raise
Published by Bloomberg BNA Facilities that provide kidney dialysis services will receive a Medicare pay boost of 0.5 percent in 2018, but that is less than what the Medicare agency proposed earlier this year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in a final rule (RIN:0938-AT04) issued Oct. 27, increased payments to end-stage renal disease…
Bill that would expand telehealth options for home dialysis patients passes Senate
Published by Nephrology News On Sept. 26, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017 (S.870). The bill, introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, in April, includes a section that expands the ability of Medicare beneficiaries on home dialysis to receive…
Let Health Insurance Be Insurance
Published by Forbes Written By Dr. Wayne Winegarden One of the many flaws with our current health care system is that, too often, health insurance coverage fails people precisely when they need it the most. It’s as if your car insurance has been paying the cost for your oil changes for years, but won’t pay the…
America’s kidney disease epidemic merits congressional attention
Published by The Hill Written By Dr. Eleanor D. Lederer When a young Dutchman named Dr. Willem Kolff began developing the first artificial kidney in the 1930s, anyone suffering from kidney failure faced almost certain death. Over the next 30 years, however, Kolff – along with several other notable scientists – successfully developed an artificial…
Roberts, Jenkins lead legislation to help dialysis centers
Published by The Wichita Eagle Kansans are leading the charge to decrease waiting times for dialysis provider accreditation. U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts introduced the legislation Thursday. U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, of Kansas’ 2nd District, had earlier introduced companion legislation in the House that passed unanimously as part of a broader Medicare package. The Dialysis Access…