Renal Business Today

Healthcare Reform

Healthcare reform was ushered in by President Barack Obama and Congress in 2010. Although dialysis care was not mentioned specifically in the legislation, the renal community could still see changes. Most notably, accountable care organizations could start merging with dialysis providers to share in costs savings associated with better care.

Fewer Americans Having Problems Paying Medical Bills

ATLANTA—The percentage of people under age 65 in families having problems paying medical bills decreased from 21.7 percent in the first six months of 2011 to 20.3 percent in the first six months of 2012, according to a report from CDC’s National Center for Health ...More
2 weeks ago
Posted in News
House Ways and Means Members Support Bundle Payments

WASHINGTON, D.C.—House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA) asked in a May 28 letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn Tavenner that CMS work collaboratively with ...More
2 weeks ago
Posted in News
The Fiscal Cliff, the Patient, the Clinic and the Wallet

A typical dialysis clinic, and the whole renal industry in general, makes money because of the unfortunate disease that has interfered with an individual's life: kidney disease. The clinics get a certain amount of money reimbursed from Medicare each and every year. ...More
December 12, 2012
Posted in Blog, Government & Regulation
People with Medicare Save $5 Billion on Prescription Drugs Because of Health Care Law

WASHINGTON—As the final week of Medicare Open Enrollment approaches, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that savings on prescription drugs made possible by the Affordable Care Act reached $5.1 billion. ...More
December 4, 2012
Posted in News, Government & Regulation
The Fiscal Cliff, Medicare and What it Means to Dialysis Care

At midnight, on December 31, provisions from the Budget Control Act of 2011—better known as the fiscal cliff—are scheduled to go into effect. What does that mean for you? A 2 percent tax increase for those employed, an end of some tax breaks for businesses and high-income ...More
November 28, 2012
Posted in Blog, Government & Regulation
Obama Administration Moves Forward to Implement Health Care Law

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration moved forward today to implement provisions in the health care law that would make it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. The provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also would ...More
November 21, 2012
Posted in News, 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
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
Medicare Advantage Remains Strong

WASHINGTON—Enrollment in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program is projected to increase by 11 percent in the next year and premiums will remain steady, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced. Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010, ...More
September 19, 2012
Posted in News
Poll Results on the Voucher-Based Health Care System

Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote in our poll on how the voucher-based health care approach, presented by the Republican presidential ticket, would affect dialysis care. The results for the voucher in dialysis care were: ...More
September 11, 2012
Posted in Blog, Government & Regulation, Practice Management