Legislators introduce bill to fund home-assisted dialysis care
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Bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress on Sept. 29 that would fund staff assistance for patients on home dialysis.
The Improving Access to Home Dialysis Act, introduced by Reps Bobby L. Rush, D-IL, and Jason Smith, R-MO, would “provide Medicare reimbursement for trained, professional staff to visit home dialysis patients and assist them with their home dialysis treatments,” according to a press release issued by Rush.
“The legislation would also ensure that all kidney patients are educated about home dialysis options early in their treatment process and given the support they need to utilize home dialysis should they choose to do so,” he said.
The bill would also require HHS to conduct a study on the racial disparities in the utilization of home dialysis and provide data on outcomes for in-center and home dialysis patients.
“Home dialysis provides far more flexibility for patients than in-center dialysis and can lead to better health outcomes and quality of life,” Rush said in a press release from the National Kidney Foundation. “Therefore, it is no surprise that many kidney patients prefer home dialysis when given the option.”
A 2016 study found that compared with white Americans, Black Americans were 60% less likely to be treated with home hemodialysis and 47% less likely to be treated with peritoneal dialysis at home, Rush said.
According to the NKF, the Improving Access to Home Dialysis Act would:
- provide reimbursement through Medicare for in-home assistance by staff of the patient’s dialysis facility to patients on home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis for the first 90 days of their regimen;
- provide for in-home respite staff assistance under certain circumstances outside the initial 90 days;
- provide for the possibility of continuous staff assistance without a time limit for patients with certain disabilities;
- expand the types of health care professionals who can provide home dialysis training;
- provide for additional educational opportunities for patients to learn about their dialysis options; and
- provide for training on home dialysis to occur, when possible, in the location the patient intends to dialyze.
“Home dialysis allows patients to decide when, how often and for how long they dialyze,” Kevin Longino, CEO of the NKF, said in the release. “This [legislation] not only gives them more time and energy to go to work and spend time with family, but also helps reduce patients’ risk of infection, hospitalization and depression,” he said.
“By providing patients with the support and training they need, this legislation will lead to better patient health outcomes, improved quality of life and reduced risk for exposure to COVID-19.”
References
- National Kidney Foundation works with champions in Congress on home dialysis bill. Published Sept. 29, 2021. Accessed Oct. 11, 2021. www.kidney.org/news/nkf-works-champions-congress-home-dialysis-bill
- Norris et al. Semin Dial. 2017;doi:10.1111/sdi.12589.
- Rush introduces bipartisan legislation to expand home dialysis, ensure kidney patients are educated about full range of treatment options. Published Sept. 29, 2021; accessed Oct. 11, 2021. https://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-expand-home-dialysis-ensure.
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