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Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) are limiting people from receiving more frequent dialysis by saying “We won’t pay for it!”

Urge congress to protect your right to optimal dialysis.

Additional dialysis treatments, prescribed by physicians, are critical to patients’ health and quality-of-life. Doctors should prescribe and oversee treatment regimens for their dialysis patients, not MACs. Studies report that people who are prescribed more than the three-time per week dialysis treatments showed improved control of high blood pressure, phosphorus in the blood, required less medication and had better overall survival indicators. Studies also show reductions in depression, post-treatment recovery time, sleep disturbance and restless leg syndrome.

In addition, these restrictions directly contradict the promise made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS says, “We pledge to put patients first in all of our programs. To do this, we must empower patients to work with their doctors and make health care decisions that are best for them.”

The MACs practice of waiting for patients to feel bad, have acute health episodes or be hospitalized to get the life-changing treatment they need is incomprehensible. Please inform the MACs to stop this practice and create policies and rules that are patient friendly and promote survival and health.

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Join RSN in urging congress to protect Medicare coverage for people who require more frequent dialysis so they can live their lives without acute and painful episodes.

Fed Senate

Subject: Stop the MACs from taking away optimal dialysis treatments

Message:

I am gravely concerned about the MAC medical director's decision to limit frequent dialysis therapy. The benefits of more frequent dialysis have been observed among many people who are able to feel well enough to provide for their families, care for their children, and be active members in their community. The literature shows that more frequent dialysis improves outcomes, too. The MACs decision is harming dialysis patients.

Patient-centered care is the cornerstone of healthcare. Doctors and their patients should decide what is the best course of treatment. Optimal dialysis often involves slower more frequent dialysis to avoid acute problems and hospitalizations.

Many people who require dialysis to live need slower, more frequent treatments to avoid severe blood pressure drops, severe cramping, fluid overload, congestive heart failure, high potassium, hospitalization and a host of awful symptoms that you would not wish on your worst enemy.

I can assure you that I have never met a dialysis patient that wanted more frequent dialysis when it wasn't needed. It is not fun to sit connected to a dialysis machine for several hours. Those who follow a frequent dialysis regimen know it is better for their health. Please ensure this option remains available.

I, along with Renal Support Network, ask that Congress assists in making sure that this payment policy issue is resolved ASAP. The MACs need a clear message that more frequent dialysis treatments should be fully covered when a doctor prescribes this treatment option for their patient.

In addition, these proposed restrictions directly contradict the promise made by the CMS. CMS says, "We pledge to put patients first in all of our programs. To do this, we must empower patients to work with their doctors and make health care decisions that are best for them."

People who require more frequent dialysis to live need this option. We want to thrive and live the life we were meant to live.

If you have any questions, contact me or Renal Support Network at wekan@rsnhope.org.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Learn more about how more frequent dialysis benefits people who have kidney disease at rsnhope.org/callingoncongress/

Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) are limiting people from receiving more frequent dialysis by saying “We won’t pay for it!”

Join RSN in urging congress to protect Medicare coverage for people who require more frequent dialysis so they can live their lives without acute and painful episodes.

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