Policy and Politics News

HHS is seeking comment on future rulemaking aimed at improving equity in access to dialysis care and organ transplantation, according to a press release from the department.

The American Kidney Fund applauded provisions made within the Build Back Better Act that are designed to help Americans with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, according to a press release.

Pathway Project results were presented for the first time at ASN Kidney Week, revealing three new best practices for end-of-life care, specific to the kidney community.

A speculated alternative to the Kidney Allocation System is continuous kidney allocation, which can be designed by simulation optimization, according to a speaker at ASN Kidney Week.

Five years after the Kidney Allocation System was implemented, racial and ethnic disparities decreased in pediatric transplantations but the wait time for kidney transplants increased for pediatric patients of all races and ethnicities.

CMS released a final rule on Oct. 29 that updates payment rates for dialysis providers and offers financial incentives to improve equity in kidney care.

Two legislators are asking Congressional leadership to halt proposed cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2022 that will impact pay for nephologists.

Bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress on Sept. 29 that would fund staff assistance for patients on home dialysis.

The CMS Molecular Diagnostics Program has issued a local coverage determination for use of a needle-free urine test by NephroSant that detects allograft rejection after kidney transplantation, according to a company press release.

KidneyX, a public-private partnership forged by HHS and the American Society of Nephrology, is uniquely poised to spur change in kidney care, Rachel L. Levine, MD, said.