Improving Access to Home Dialysis Act of 2021

Improving Access to Home Dialysis Act of 2021

This bill provides for Medicare coverage of staff-assisted home dialysis services for certain individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Specifically, the bill provides for coverage of services for ESRD individuals who are either initiating peritoneal or home hemodialysis or receiving home dialysis and are unable to self-dialyze due to illness, injury, caregiver issues, or other temporary circumstances. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must develop a payment system for such services.

The bill also requires the development of a patient-centered decision tool that includes home dialysis as an option, as well as a report on racial disparities with respect to the use of staff-assisted home dialysis services.

Bill 117 HR 5426, also known as the Improving Access to Home Dialysis Act of 2021, aims to increase access to home dialysis treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The bill seeks to improve patient outcomes and quality of life by expanding access to home dialysis services, which allow patients to receive treatment in the comfort of their own homes rather than having to travel to a dialysis center multiple times a week.

The bill includes provisions to increase Medicare reimbursement rates for home dialysis services, making it more financially feasible for healthcare providers to offer these services to patients. It also includes measures to streamline the process for patients to transition from in-center dialysis to home dialysis, ensuring that patients have the support and resources they need to make this transition successfully.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to increase education and training for healthcare providers on home dialysis treatment options, as well as measures to improve data collection and reporting on home dialysis outcomes. By increasing access to home dialysis services and improving the quality of care for patients with ESRD, the Improving Access to Home Dialysis Act of 2021 aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with ESRD treatment.