KCP commends CMS for eliminating 'transition adjustment' imposed on new ESRD PPS

Kidney Care Partners, a broad-based coalition of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, care providers and manufacturers, commends the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for eliminating the so-called "transition adjustment" imposed on dialysis facilities as part of the new Medicare end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system (PPS).

Last year, in finalizing rules on the new ESRD PPS, CMS estimated the number of facilities that would opt to participate into the new payment system beginning in January 2011 at only 43 percent, which required a 3.1 percent payment reduction during transition years to achieve budget neutrality. In reality, more than 80 percent of dialysis facilities opted into the new system.  

Today's announcement by CMS uses actual facility elections rather than estimates, and eliminates the 3.1 percent payment reduction for services provided on or after April 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011.

KCP is deeply grateful to CMS and the Administration for making this correction.  We appreciate CMS' willingness to work with the kidney care community to address this important issue. Today's correction will help improve the lives of all Medicare beneficiaries on dialysis.

KCP also appreciates the leadership of Senators Baucus, Conrad, Hatch and Grassley, as well as Reps. Boustany and Berkley for their attention to this critical issue.

KCP is committed to ensuring high quality care for individuals with kidney disease and to working with government officials toward an increasingly efficient and effective Medicare dialysis benefit.

SOURCE Kidney Care Council