Kidney group urges CMS to prioritize Increasing Organ Transplant Access payment model
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Key takeaways:
- CMS indicated a later-than-expected start beyond the original date of Jan. 1, 2025.
- A Kidney Transplant Collaborative analysis found an increase in the number of U.S. residents waiting for a kidney.
The Kidney Transplant Collaborative expressed disappointment at the delayed CMS launch of the Increasing Organ Transplant Access model, according to a press release from the organization.
The proposed Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) payment model aims to increase transplant access for patients with kidney disease, while also lowering Medicare expenditures.
CMS is continuing to work on the final rule, according to an agency statement, but has indicated a later-than-expected start beyond the original implantation date of Jan. 1, 2025.
The 6-year, mandatory IOTA focuses on the following key goals, CMS detailed in a review:
- maximize the use of deceased donor kidneys;
- improve the quality of care throughout the transplant process; and
- address social gaps to enhance equity.
The plan also targets potential living donors and seeks to create a more patient-centered experience.
A Kidney Transplant Collaborative analysis found an increase in the number of U.S. residents waiting for a kidney, particularly in Nevada, North Carolina and Illinois, according to an Oct. 23 press release from the organization.
“We are facing a crisis,” the Kidney Transplant Collaborative said in that previous report. “The growing kidney transplant waitlist is a matter of life and death, and it is critical that we support policies that incentivize donation, reduce geographic disparities, and ensure every person in need of a kidney transplant has a chance to survive.”
The IOTA model represents a critical step in making the transplant process more accessible, the Kidney Transplant Collaborative stated in the most recent release, while the delay raises concerns that vulnerable patients may face longer wait times. The group is urging immediate action from CMS to prioritize the IOTA model.
References:
Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) model. https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/iota.
Kidney Transplant Collaborative (KTC): CMS delay on IOTA model a setback in urgent effort to expand transplant access. Published Oct. 30, 2024. Accessed Oct. 27, 2024.
New Kidney Transplant Collaborative (KTC) analysis of data reveals alarming surge in kidney transplant waitlists in swing states. https://kidneytransplantcollaborative.com/new-kidney-transplant-collaborative-ktc-analysis-of-data-reveals-alarming-surge-in-kidney-transplant-waitlists-in-swing-states/. Published Oct. 23, 2024. Accessed Oct. 27, 2024.
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