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| Wilson Cosponsors Bill to Improve Care for New Mexico’s Kidney Patients |
February 20, 2002 |
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Early education is the key to successful outcomes
Washington, DC-Congresswoman Heather Wilson announced today that she has cosponsored the Kidney Disease Educational Benefits Act, a bill that will expand Medicare coverage for kidney disease education services to patients before they develop chronic kidney failure. In 1999, New Mexico was listed among the states with the highest rate of chronic kidney failure in the nation with 2,270 patients. That number is rising every year. Early access to information about kidney failure and treatment options can reduce complications associated with dialysis, which will improve outcomes and potentially reducing costs over the long term.
“As medical technologies and procedures improve, it becomes increasingly necessary to improve patient education as well,” said Wilson. “With this bill, we can save thousands of lives by giving people with kidney disease the knowledge they need to make the best choices for their health care.”
Currently, Medicare covers dialysis for most Americans and requires that kidney patients receive information on treatment options, but not until the patient is under the care of a dialysis clinic. Most patients do not receive this education before they experience a complete loss of kidney function, by which time it might be too late for the information to be of much benefit. The Kidney Disease Educational Benefits Act is designed to improve patient outcomes by providing appropriate education before dialysis is initiated.
Each year, approximately 80,000 Americans develop chronic kidney and require regular kidney dialysis treatments or a transplant to survive. Approximately 50% of new kidney patients have Medicare age or disability status before they start dialysis or receive a transplant and would be eligible for the services under this bill. This legislation would provide reimbursement for up to six educational sessions performed by social workers, nurses, or other kidney care professionals. |
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