Policy and Politics News

CMS has released a proposed rule that would increase the bundled payment rate for dialysis treatments by 2.2% in 2025 and allow dialysis providers for the first time to offer home dialysis to patients treated for AKI.

A bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would slow efforts by commercial health plans from moving patients with end-stage kidney disease to Medicare now has 30 co-sponsors, according to a press release.

PHILADELPHIA — Expansion of Medicaid via the Affordable Care Act may be tied to less likelihood of transplant waitlist removal due to illness or death, a speaker here said.

Members of the U.S. Senate have reintroduced a bill that would provide Medicare funding for preventive screenings for kidney disease, add payments for innovative devices and allow patients younger than 65 years to buy Medigap coverage.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Getting educated on the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage may be “critically important” for patients and providers in nephrology, a speaker said, here.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Gaurav Jain, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham discussed value-based care in nephrology at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings, here.

Legislators have introduced a bill that would qualify more medical professionals to provide home dialysis training and offer Medicare-funded staff assistance during treatment sessions.

While health care issues on Capitol Hill are gaining some attention, momentum could change if the White House or Congress are under new political leadership after the November elections, according to Robert Blaser.

Nephrology groups are concerned that a reduction in payments to nephrology practices in the Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting models may lead to a drop in participation, according to Robert Blaser.

Members of Congress may be ready to start work on legislation to change how Medicare pays physicians – and avoid a last-minute yearly ritual of trying to offset cuts issued by CMS, according to Robert Blaser.