Policy and Politics News

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York signed the New York State Living Donor Support Act to provide direct reimbursement up to $10,000 to living organ donors, according to an American Kidney Fund press release.

Changes in Medicare’s approach to chronic kidney disease, including the Advancing American Kidney Health initiative and End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choice Model, attracted providers and value-based care groups.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation launched the Kidney Care Choices model to pay nephrologists and their practice teams to treat patients with stage 4 and 5 chronic kidney disease.

Administrators of independent dialysis clinics said in a letter to Congressional leaders that intervention is needed to avoid staffing cuts because of inadequate Medicare payments.

The Renal Physicians Association, the American Society of Nephrology and more than 100 other medical groups have sent a letter to Congress asking legislators to limit the impact of a planned cut in Medicare payments to physicians.

The National Kidney Registry announced the Donor Shield program, which expands its paid leave policy for employees who become living organ donors.

The American Kidney Fund announced the launch of its Patient Access Initiative in a press release. The initiative aims to provide insight and solutions to health care access issues among patients with kidney disease and their caregivers.

Veterans with end-stage kidney disease receiving hospice financed by the Veterans Health Administration were more likely to receive concurrent treatments than those receiving Medicare-financed hospice, according to recently published data.

California voters turned down a union-backed ballot initiative by more than a 2-1 margin on election night that would have created stricter rules for dialysis clinic operations.

Providers will receive $265.57 per treatment for patients on dialysis in outpatient facilities starting in January, according to CMS.