House bill would pay for workforce, innovative drugs and expand coverage for treating CKD
U.S. House Reps. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., have re-introduced The Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act. If passed, H.R. 5027 “will support efforts to prevent and better understand chronic kidney disease (CKD) by ensuring appropriate reimbursement for quality care and improve patient access to the best drugs, technology and innovations along the kidney care continuum,”…
Kidney Care Partners expresses disappointment with proposed dialysis payment increase
Kidney Care Partners, a coalition of 30 organizations involved in kidney care, said it was “extremely concerned” about a proposal by CMS to increase the Medicare bundled payment rate by 1.6% next year, according to a press release. The proposed additional payment, about half of the increase that CMS agreed to pay dialysis providers in 2023, “fails…
Kidney Care Partners names new executive director
Colin Roskey, JD, a health care lawyer and former federal health official, has been appointed executive director of Kidney Care Partners, according to a press release. At the helm at Kidney Care Partners (KCP), Roskey will lead a coalition of more than 30 organizations that represent patient advocates, physician and health professional groups, dialysis providers, researchers and manufacturers….
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….
More than 10 years later, it is time to rethink the ESRD payment bundle
The Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease program started 50 years ago with an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1972. Coverage under Medicare was unique and gave hope to thousands of patients with end-stage kidney disease and an opportunity to live on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant without financial burden. Click here to see…
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…
Medical Teams Weather Storms to Save Lives of Dialysis Patients
Christmas of last year, Michael Sloma knew he had a job to do — to help a woman who needed dialysis, reported Business Insider. According to the National Kidney Foundation, one in 500 Americans is on dialysis. The chaos of severe weather conditions can throw patients in a mix. Click here to see the full article…
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…
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…