Policy and Politics News

The Health Resources Services Administration, which oversees the contract with the United Network for Organ Sharing to manage the U.S. organ procurement system, has launched a new initiative aimed at improving access to donor organs.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” – Apple founder Steve Jobs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In this interview from the Annual Dialysis Conference, Michael A. Kraus, MD, discussed the 2026 home dialysis training guidelines being developed by the Facility Guidelines Institute.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — In this interview from the Annual Dialysis Conference, Eugene Lin, MD, MS, FASN, spoke about home dialysis policy and the profitability of switching from in-center dialysis.

Kidney transplant outcomes among undocumented immigrants in California are similar to that of U.S. residents, according to data published in JAMA Network Open.

CMS has approved 50 new kidney contracting entities to participate in the second year of the Kidney Care Choices demonstration, which focuses on providing care for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, according to a press release.

As a teenager at camp in 1973, a looming tornado forced Dori Schatell, MS, and her fellow campers into the basement of the lodge. While waiting out the storm, counselors shared two ethical dilemmas with the teens to pass the time.

Last year, the kidney community marked the 50th anniversary of the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease Program.

Editor’s note: As part of the focus this month on reimagination of the End-Stage Renal Disease Program, Healio/Nephrology News & Issues interviewed Alex M. Azar II, who served as the HHS Secretary from 2018 to 2021. During that time, the agency launched Advancing American Kidney Health (AAKH), an initiative that set new goals for patient treatment, created KidneyX to help companies develop new products, and launched new demonstrations and care models aimed at increasing home dialysis, transplantation and treating chronic kidney disease at earlier stages.

In October 2022, the United States marked 50 years since the passage of Social Security Act amendments that created the Medicare entitlement for end-stage kidney disease.