Dialysis Patient Citizens Applauds Introduction of Dialysis PATIENT Demonstration Bills

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Jun 27, 2016, 09:54 ET

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bipartisan, bicameral legislation mandating a new Medicare demonstration of integrated care for ESRD patients will help spread best practices for treating this population, says beneficiary advocacy group Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC).

"As an in-center hemodialysis patient of 41 years, I am well aware of the multiple health issues that a large percentage of my fellow patients have to cope with on a daily basis. Coordinating their care among health providers would lead to better outcomes for patients and reward providers for optimal care with fewer dollars spent overall," said Jack Reynolds, DPC's president and a dialysis patient from Carlisle, Iowa.

A Senate version of the Dialysis PATIENT Act (Patient Access To Integrated care, Empowerment, Nephrologists, and Treatment), S. 3090, was introduced Friday by Senators Heller (R-NV) and Nelson (D-FL). It follows introduction of the House version (H.R. 5506) the previous week by Reps. Young (R-IN), Blumenauer (D-OR), McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Cardenas (D-CA). The Dialysis PATIENT Act would permit dialysis organizations to accept capitated payments to cover all of an ESRD patient's Medicare expenditures in return for coordinating care for their renal disease and other comorbidities.

"Going back to Medicare's ESRD Disease Management Demonstration and continuing with Special Needs Plans, dialysis providers have shown success in reducing complications and hospitalizations when they accept accountability for outcomes and the total cost of care," said Hrant Jamgochian, DPC CEO. "But these proven techniques are available only to a relative handful of ESRD patients. The Dialysis PATIENT Act will permit more Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD to benefit from care coordination, while retaining their freedom of choice to see any provider and a right to opt out if they do not want to participate."

About Dialysis Patient Citizens
With more than 28,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis patients making up our membership, DPC is working to improve the quality of life for all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. We are a nationwide, nonprofit, patient-led dialysis organization with membership open only to dialysis and pre-dialysis patients and their families. Our policies and our mission are guided solely by our membership.

DPC is a 501(c)(4) organization governed by dialysis patients.

http://www.dialysispatients.org

Contact
Hrant Jamgochian, J.D., LL.M.
Chief Executive Officer
Dialysis Patient Citizens
1012 14^th Street NW Suite 905
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-789-6931
Toll free: 866-877-4242
FAX: 202-789-6935

SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens