Dialysis Funding
With 82% of dialysis patients relying on Medicare, and nearly half of those patients also on Medicaid, the importance of adequate government funding for this life sustaining care cannot be overstated. In the meantime, Medicare now pays a single “bundled” rate for most dialysis services, including: dialysis center staff, dialysis machines, filters, injectable medications and soon, oral-only medications. As a result, any arbitrary cut can have a devastating impact on the quality of care patients receive, staffing at their facilities or even the ability of facilities to keep their doors open. DPC continues to be a strong advocate for Medicare (and all other payers) to cover the full cost of dialysis care.
Related Information
DPC Comment Letter to CMS Recounts Heartbreaking Story of Rural Dialysis Clinic Closure
DPC has submitted its comments responding to this year’s Medicare ESRD Payment Rule. The Medicare agency is proposing a payment update of only 1.9%, which doesn’t keep pace with increasing costs. According to the [...]
DPC’s Letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, on ESRD Prospective Payment System
August 27, 2025 The Honorable Mehmet Oz Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20001 Re: CMS-1830-P - End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Dear Dr. Oz: Dialysis [...]
Letter: Medicare, Medicaid not keeping up with inflation, hurting patient care
Dear Editor, I was born with a rare genetic disorder that caused my kidneys and eyes to be underdeveloped. I have battled chronic kidney disease at all levels throughout my entire life. At age [...]
Letter: Medicare failed us
As a program coordinator for the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania, I have made it my life’s mission to help kidney patients manage their condition. I see or hear stories of the inadequate standards [...]
Poor care? Blame Medicare payments
My husband Raymond and I met on a blind date. Three months later, his kidney unexpectedly failed, and I have walked alongside him on his patient journey ever since. My husband’s life depends on [...]
Reimbursement rates for health care professionals needs to be increased
As a patient with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, I know how health care workforce shortages can affect patients. I have been on dialysis for 7 years. At the clinic where I receive [...]
