The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed increasing payments to dialysis providers next year in a draft regulation released Monday.
The agency is proposing to increase the Potential End-Stage Kidney Disease Payment System base rate for dialysis services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by $4.42, or $1, 7%, to $269.99. Total payments are expected to increase by 2.6% for hospital-based end-stage renal disease facilities and 1.6% for independent facilities.
The proposed pay increase is smaller than the 3.1% pay increase providers have seen this year.
Under the proposed rule, the agency would also update the 2024 acute kidney injury dialysis payment rate for hospice facilities to $269.99.
It will increase payments for some new dialysis drugs and biologics after the end of the transitional additional payment adjustment period, aimed at helping facilities adopt treatments for Medicare beneficiaries.
In addition, the agency seeks to address the costs of caring for pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease. As more data is collected, the agency is proposing to adjust the transitional supplemental payment of 30% of the per-treatment amount for pediatric dialysis services for three years, starting in 2024.
The draft regulation includes proposals to require providers to report the amount of time beneficiaries spend on center hemodialysis treatment and the amount of dialysis drugs and biologics removed from the site. single-use packages.
The agency requested input to shape potential rules regarding the management of low patient numbers and the ability to increase payments for geographically isolated facilities. It proposes to add a number of reporting measures over the next few years to assess facilities’ commitments to health equity and to strengthen screening for health-promoting social factors.
The agency is accepting comments until August 25.
