Renal Business Today

Government & Regulation

The End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Program is heavily regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which provides reimbursement to dialysis providers to help pay for the care of kidney disease patients. Kidney-related pharmaceuticals and medical devices are heavily used in dialysis clinics and are also subject to approval and ongoing regulation.

Deciphering Meaningful Use Stage 3

With stage 2 of meaningful use (MU) looming on the horizon for 2014, how many nephrologists have turned their attention to MU stage 3? The stage 3 proposed rule, which was released November 2012, outlines changes to the EHR (electronic health record) Incentive Program that ...More
4 weeks ago
Posted in Articles, Government & Regulation
NRAA HIE CROWNWeb Submissions 80 Percent Complete

Approximately 80 percent of the 800 facilities participating in the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA) Health Information Exchange (HIE) have finalized the 2012 submission process for CROWNWeb, the NRAA announced in a recent letter. ...More
April 19, 2013
Posted in Articles, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
Focus on Finance: Examining the Renal ACO

In February we looked at tax planning, and in March RBT we questioned some of the assumptions used by the General Accounting Office (GAO) to reach its conclusion that the Medicare ESRD expanded bundle may be “overpaying” for dialysis services. In this issue I am focusing on ...More
April 17, 2013
Posted in Articles, Business, Government & Regulation
AAKP, ANNA, Others Recognize Leaders for 113th Congress

TAMPA, Fla.—On March 20, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) joined the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) in Washington, D.C. as co-sponsors of a reception for the Congressional Kidney Caucus in the 113th Congress. The Congressional Kidney Caucus ...More
April 11, 2013
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
ESRD QIP NHSN Deadline Extended

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have agreed to grant a one-time extension for clinics to report to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) in order to comply with the CMS End-Stage Renal ...More
April 2, 2013
Posted in Blog, Government & Regulation
Kidney Care Leaders Work Toward Kidney Quality

WASHINGTON—Kidney Care Partners (KCP) has concluded a day-long “quality summit” involving 35 experts from across the U.S. The goal of the summit was to work toward development of a strategic national blueprint for advancing kidney care quality. ...More
April 2, 2013
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Introduced, Praised by Dialysis Advocates

WASHINGTON—The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2013 (S.323/H.R. 1325) was introduced this March in honor of National Kidney Month. ...More
March 28, 2013
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
Patients Urge Medicare to Fix HHD Training Reimbursement

WASHINGTON—In honor of National Kidney Month, current and former dialyzors with Hemodialysis at Home: A Better Way for a Better Life , a NxStage sponsored project, gathered in Washington, D.C. today to urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to remove ...More
March 20, 2013
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
Sequestration Hurting EHR Incentive, CMS Education

Meaningful use (MU), we've all heard it, have been aware of it and have had it drilled into our heads to get on the MU band wagon before it's too late—before the incentive turns into a penalty. Now there is one more thing to take into considerations when thinking about all ...More
March 19, 2013
Posted in Blog, Government & Regulation
AKF, Patient-Advocates Raise Awareness During Capitol Hill Kidney Action Day

WASHINGTON—The American Kidney Fund (AKF), alongside patient-advocates, hosted its fourth annual Kidney Action Day on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of kidney disease. The advocacy event and free health screening is the first of the AKF's calendar of initiatives designed ...More
March 8, 2013
Posted in News, Government & Regulation