The Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease Program

Since End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients became entitled to benefits in 1972, the program has extended treatment access to many of kidney failure victims. Gradually increasing expenditures have Congress to reevaluate the program. The Institute of Medicine has with a report, analyzing patient demographics, access problems, of care, and the effects of budget changes on quality of care. The predicts that greater numbers of elderly, diabetic, hypertensive, and patients will seek treatment in the coming years, and urges that to benefits be further extended to include non-Medicare U.S. citizens resident aliens, with transplantation being encouraged over dialysis. The concludes that further cuts in the reimbursement system would harm quality and access of treatment; that payment rates should be updated; and that quality of care should be systematically monitored and through a comprehensive basic research program. (KIE abstract)