CKD IV Education for Medicare Beneficiaries and Cuts to Vascular Access Centers
In July 2009 CMS sought  input is on the creation of a reimbursement program to educate patients, who have stage four of kidney disease, before they reach dialysis. In that same proposed rule known as the CMS-1413-P: Proposed Rule for Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2010 CMS  looked to cut reimbursement to Vascular Access Centers by 22.5%. This substantial cut could have cause many of these centers to close leaving many patients with no other option but to be admitted to the hospital to have problems with their fistulas, grafts or catheters fixed. DPC submitted comments on these two important issues.  While CMS did decide to cut payment to these centers they did so only by 6%.  A significant improvement over the proposed 22.5% cut.  Additionally, CMS incorporated many of DPC’s suggestions in their final creation of the kidney disease education program for Medicare beneficiaries who have stage 4 chronic kidney disease.
 

Medicaid Proposal to Eliminate Transportation
In 2008 Medicaid proposed a rule would allow states that implemented alternative Medicaid programs (called benchmark programs) the option to eliminate non-emergency medical transportation as a benefit. DPC believed this proposed rule would impact dialysis patients access to life saving outpatient dialysis services.  DPC submitted comments  to CMS requesting that dialysis patients transportation be protected under state Medicaid plans.  In the final rule CMS continued to allow states the flexibility to provide non-emergency medical transportation in their benchmark Medicaid programs.  CMS stated dialysis patients would likely be able to opt out of a benchmark plan and revert to original Medicaid if it did not provide needed transportation. 
Read DPC's response