Kidney Failure and the Federal Government

Presents a comprehensive analysis of the federal endstage renal disease (ESRD) program: who uses it, how well it functions, and what improvements are needed. It covers topics, such as: the ESRD patient population; dialysis and transplantation providers; issues of patient access and availability of treatment; and more.

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Since 1972, many victims of endstage renal disease (ESRD) have received treatment under a unique Medicare entitlement. This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the federal ESRD program: who uses it, how well it functions, and what improvements are needed.


The book includes recommendations on patient eligibility, reimbursement, quality assessment, medical ethics, and research needs.


Kidney Failure and the Federal Government offers a wealth of information on these and other topics:




The ESRD patient population.
Dialysis and transplantation providers.
Issues of patient access and availability of treatment.
Ethical issues related to treatment initiation and termination.
Payment policies and their relationship to quality of care.


This book will have a major impact on the future of the ESRD program and will be of interest to health policymakers, nephrologists and other individual providers, treatment site administrators, and researchers.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Part I: Overview, Summary
Introduction
Part II: Patients and Providers, Perspectives of ESRD Patients
Ethical Issues
The Patient Population
The ESRD Patient Population: Special Groups
Structure of the Provider Community
Part III: Access, Access Problems of ESRD Patients
Access to Kidney Transplantation
Part IV: Reimbursement and Quality, Medicare ESRD Payment Policy
Reimbusement Effects on Quality
Outpatient Dialysis Reimbursement Issues
Quality Assessment and Assurance
Part V: Data and Research, Data Systems
Research Needs
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: Acronyms and Initialisms
Appendix C: Commissioned Papers and Contractor Reports
Appendix D: Survival Analysis Methods for the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Program of Medicare
Appendix E: Institute of Medicine ESRD Study Committee Public Hearing, May 5, 1989, Chicago, Illinois
Appendix F: Institute of Medicine ESRD Study Committee Public Hearing on
Appendix G: Institute of Medicine ESRD Study Committee Workshop on ESRD Staffing, November 3, 1989, Washington, D.C.
Appendix H: Institute of Medicine ESRD Study Committee Workshop on Kidney Transplantation, December 13, 1989, Washington, D.C.
Appendix I: Institute of Medicine ESRD Study Committee Workshop on Black and Other Nonwhite ESRD Patients, May 15, 1990, Washington, D.C.
Appendix J: Institute of Medicine ESRD Study Committee ESRD Patient Focus-Group Participants
Index