Policy and Politics News

A recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office estimates Medicare could save $400 million in the course of 10 years if lifetime immunosuppressive drug coverage were offered to Medicare patients with a kidney transplant.

The mortality rate among patients with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis is more than twice that of people without CKD, according to the latest annual report of the United States Renal Data System.

CMS has released the final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates under the Prospective Payment System for renal dialysis services for 2021.

A California ballot measure that requires outpatient dialysis clinics to have a physician present during all dialysis treatments failed by a 2-1 margin on election night.

The National Kidney Foundation has announced in a press release that it has named Paul M. Palevsky, MD, president of the organization’s board of directors.

The National Renal Administrators Association is asking CMS to delay the planned Jan. 1 launch of the ESRD Treatment Choices model until after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, giving dialysis providers time to prepare for the demonstration.

Data presented at ASN Kidney Week demonstrated that although Medicare-reimbursed kidney disease education led to improved outcomes, “few” eligible patients received it and receipt declined during the study period.

A speaker at ASN Kidney Week argued that it is necessary to address systemic racism, implicit bias and structural oppression if health equity is to be achieved in the United States.

The National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology are asking CMS for detailed information on the outcomes of patients with kidney disease who have contracted COVID-19.

A series of payment reforms implemented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans with end-stage kidney disease were found to reduce costs for dialysis sessions.