“Home-based dialysis equipment and supplies for patients with end state kidney disease would be eligible for additional Medicare reimbursements under a proposed rule put forward this week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.”
“CMS Administrator Seema Verma said the proposed rule – the latest in a series of initiatives put forward by Medicare to improve access to kidney dialysis – is particularly timely ‘in the midst of a deadly pandemic that poses a particular threat to those with serious underlying conditions.’”
“In addition to often having multiple comorbidities, ESRD patients also have the highest hospitalization rates for COVID-19 among Medicare beneficiaries.”
“‘CMS data shows that those with ESRD have the highest rate of hospitalization of any single group, a trend consistent with having to frequently leave home to receive dialysis,’ Verma said…”
“Currently, more than 85% of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with ESRD travel to a facility to receive their dialysis at least three times each week, spending an average of 12 hours each week attached to a dialysis machine away from home, CMS said.”
“Under the proposed rule, which would take effect on January 1, 2021, CMS would…” Read the full article here.
Source: CMS Looks to Fund Innovation for Home Dialysis – By John Commins, July 7, 2020. HealthLeaders Media.
