Medicare, a federal program, pays for dialysis for over 80% of dialysis treatments. However, many issues concerning dialysis patients are actually handled at the state level.

Individual states have to provide certain basic services under Medicaid, but they also have flexibility in how they structure their plans and set their reimbursement rates. In addition, some states have the authority to determine the need and location for additional dialysis facilities (this is often referred to as certificate of need). Because dialysis patients’ care can be affected by state officials as well as federal officials, DPC members are becoming more active on state issues, ensuring the patient's voice is heard locally as well as nationally.

State Kidney Funding Update
The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan lost its funding to administer the State’s kidney program.

Michigan Dialysis Patient Resources

National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
This foundation has a variety of programs to assist people with kidney disease who are in need.
1-800-482-1455

Meijer Supermarkets
Prescriptions will be filled for up to 100 tablets; refills are also free. The specific medication(s) in the program may change from time to time; as of 4/20/10, metformin (Glucophage) was available.

#11 Renal Network fo the Upper Midwest
1360 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200
St. Paul, MN  55108
1-800-973-3773

Michigan Department of Community Health
1-517-241-7185

• Adult Programs: Provides low cost or free health care, or help with health insurance.
• Programs for Children: MIChild is a health care program administered by the Department of Community Health. It is for the low income uninsured children of Michigan's working families.