Policy and Politics News

Updated Jan. 23 to include quotes from Dialysis Patient Citizens

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Baxter International Inc.'s Phoxillum Renal Replacement Solutions as replacement solutions in continuous renal replacement therapy. Phoxillum can be used to correct electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, and in cases of drug poisoning when CRRT is used to remove dialyzable substances. The FDA has granted Phoxillum orphan drug designation for use in CRRT.

Editor’s note: The Kidney Care Quality Alliance, formed in 2008 by Kidney Care Partners, announced recently that it would begin developing a new set of quality measures for the renal community. A top priority, the group says, is a measure for fluid management. We asked Edward R. Jones, MD, and Allen R. Nissenson, MD, co-chairs of the KCQA, how the measures would be developed and the importance of fluid management. KCP is a broad-based coalition of patient advocates, clinicians, care professionals, dialysis providers, researchers and manufacturers working together to improve quality of care for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease.

The FDA has cleared AmeriWater’s Heatsan dialysis heat disinfection system, which can disinfect two separate distribution loops while providing hot water to dialysis machines.

A law signed by former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn in June 2014 provides funding for kidney transplants for undocumented immigrants in Illinois, and the drugs needed to maintain the transplanted kidneys.

Editor’s Note: We are now a decade and a half into the 21st century. The ESRD Program is cruising past its 50th anniversary and enters this year with some unresolved issues. We sat down––virtually––with Robert Blaser, the Public Policy Director for the Renal Physicians Association (www.renalmd.org) and asked him to give us his annual assessment of the new (Republican) way on Capitol Hill and what impact it might have on kidney care.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Maddux originally prepared this article in early December as a blog post for Acumen Physician Solutions. We asked her to modify the post to forecast how the 12 days of Christmas, or nephrology IT, might fare over the next 12 months.

The University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (UM-KECC) is seeking nine people to serve on a technical expert panel to review the National Quality Forum endorsed Vascular Access measures (Minimizing Use of Catheters as Chronic Dialysis Access, and Maximizing Placement of Arterial Venous Fistula) and consider possible changes to the existing measures, including potential risk adjustment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted clearance to AmeriWater's MediQA dialysis system. The unit can serve 6 to 40 stations at dialysis facilities with reverse osmosis water treatment and heat disinfection.

The ESRD Networks participating in the 5-Diamond Patient Safety Program are encouraging dialysis providers to join the program. The program was developed in 2008 by the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition and the ESRD Network of New England and now includes 13 ESRD Networks. It is designed to assist dialysis facilities in improving staff and patient awareness of specific patient safety areas. There are 14 web-based educational modules addressing all aspects of patient safety. All modules include objectives, required activities, tools and resources, and optional activities. For each module successfully completed, the facility is awarded a “diamond” culminating in special recognition for 5-Diamond facilities.