Policy and Politics News

American Renal Associates became the second dialysis provider to announce it would temporarily suspend support of premium assistance for Medicaid-eligible dialysis patients pursuing Affordable Care Act exchange plans.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has awarded a five-year contract to monitor and evaluate the effects of Medicare dialysis payment policy to Insight Policy Research and the Arbor Research Collaborative for Health.

On November 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a proposed rule to update Medicare fire protection guidelines for certain dialysis facilities. Comments are due by 5 p.m. on December 4.

In an earnings call Wednesday, DaVita Kidney Care executives explained their decision announced earlier in the week to suspend support for Medicaid patients seeking premium assistance tied to an Affordable Care Act plan.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule on Oct. 28 that made changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), including payment years 2019 and 2020. The final rule also updates payment policies and rates for the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System (PPS) for 2017.

Dialysis Facility Compare will now include patient experience ratings from the In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH-CAHPS) Survey, which measures patients' perspectives on the care they received at dialysis facilities, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule on Oct. 28 that updates payment policies and rates for the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System for 2017. The final rule also made changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), including payment years 2019 and 2020.

Fresenius Medical Care will provide integrated health care management for patients with renal disease who are enrolled in seven Medicare Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (MSSP ACOs) operated by Collaborative Health Systems and physician partners, the dialysis provider announced October 26.

The American Kidney Fund said that it has created new safeguards to protect patients’ autonomy and informed choice when they turn to AKF’s Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP) for help affording insurance coverage.