Davita Kidney Care and Inspira Partnership
Davita Kidney Care will start a joint venture to acquire New Jersey’s Inspira Health Network. Through the acquisition, three southern New Jersey Inspira clinics will transfer the majority of ownership to Davita.
Source: Nephrology News & Issues
The ESRD PPS Medicare Rule to Increase Payment for Dialysis Facilities
A new rule released on June 24 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would provide a small increase in payment for dialysis services. The projected increase will be 0.7 percent for hospital-based ESRD centers, while freestanding clinics would see a 0.5 percent increase.
Source: Nephrology News & Issues
ESRD Patient-centered Bill Introduced to Senate
A Senate version of the PATIENT (Patient Access To Integrated-care, Empowerment, Nephrologists and Treatment Demonstration) Act, S. 3090, was introduced in late June. The act would allow dialysis facilities to accept capitated payments to cover an ESRD patient’s Medicare expenditures. In return, the facility must coordinate care for the patient’s ESRD and any other comorbidities.
Source: Dialysis Patient Citizens
Chronic Kidney Disease and Infectious Disease
A recent article in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases notes that nephrologists and kidney care professionals should stop viewing chronic kidney disease as a non-communicable disease. The author points out that infections contribute to the progression or development of chronic kidney disease and that many patients develop kidney disease even after the infection has been eradicated.
Source: American Journal of Kidney Diseases Blog
Acute Kidney Injury and Cardiovascular Mortality
Patients who experience acute kidney injury may be at increased risk for heart failure and heart attack, according to a new report. The study found an 86 percent increase of cardiovascular mortality associated with acute injury and a 38 percent increase in major cardiovascular events like congestive heart failure and heart attack.
Source: Renal and Urology News
