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.

Focus on Finance: MedPAC Looking to the Future of ESRD Payment

It was with great interest that I recently reviewed the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s 2012 “Report to the Congress, Medicare Payment Policy.” MedPAC makes recommendations, but only Congress makes national law. ...More
October 16, 2012
Posted in Articles, Business, Government & Regulation
People with Medicare Have More High Quality Choices

WASHINGTON—Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that people with Medicare have more high quality choices and the performance of Medicare Advantage plans is improving. HHS also released the 2013 quality ratings for Medicare health and drug ...More
October 15, 2012
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Charges 91 Individuals For Approximately $430 Million In False Billing

WASHINGTON – Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven cities have led to charges against 91 individuals – including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals – for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $429.2 ...More
October 5, 2012
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
Slide Show: 2012 USRDS Report

The following slide show reveals highlights from the latest U.S. Renal Data System report. ...More
October 3, 2012
Posted in Galleries, Government & Regulation
UCSF Artificial Kidney Project Receives $3 Million in New Funding

SAN FRANCISCO—A $750,000 gift from the John and Marcia Goldman Foundation is spurring a UCSF-led effort to create the first implantable artificial kidney for patients with kidney failure. ...More
October 2, 2012
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
Department of Justice Drops DaVita Inquiry

DENVER— DaVita announced that the United States Attorney's Office (USAO) for St. Louis recently informed the company that the USAO completed its investigation and is not taking any action against the company. ...More
October 2, 2012
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
NIH Funds Will Strengthen National Capacity For Cost-Effective, Large-Scale Clinical Studies

BETHESDA, Md. —Funds, totaling approximately $11.3 million, will support the first year of the Health Care Systems (HCS) Research Collaboratory, which will engage health care systems as research partners in conducting large-scale clinical studies. The funds are managed ...More
September 28, 2012
Posted in News, Clinical & Pharma, Government & Regulation
Renal Billing: Back to the Future GAO Report on ESRD Oral-Only Drugs

This month we delve into the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) concerns regarding the future of our end-stage renal disease (ESRD) payment system, adding perspective to our national discussion regarding health care reform in general, and dialysis payment in ...More
September 28, 2012
Posted in Articles, Government & Regulation
New Partnership Between ASN, FDA to Advance Treatment for Patients with Kidney Disease

WASHINGTON—The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are pleased to announce a new partnership: the Kidney Health Initiative (KHI). ...More
September 27, 2012
Posted in News, Government & Regulation, Practice Management
ACA to Save Americans with Medicare Money Through 2022

WASHINGTON—Because of the health care law—the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—the average person with traditional Medicare will save $5,000 from 2010 to 2022, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ...More
September 21, 2012
Posted in News, Government & Regulation