[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 107 (Wednesday, September 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE MEDICARE RENAL DIALYSIS PAYMENT FAIRNESS ACT OF 
                                  2000

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVE CAMP

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2000

  Mr. CAMP. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to be joined by 
Representative Karen Thurman and Senators Frist and Conrad in 
introducing the Medicare Renal Dialysis Payment Fairness Act of 2000 
and 15 other original consponsors. This legislation takes important 
steps to help sustain and improve the quality of care for the more than 
280,000 Americans living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
  In 1972, Congress ensured that elderly and disabled individuals with 
kidney failure receive appropriate dialysis care. At that time, 
Medicare coverage was extended to include dialysis treatments for 
individuals with ESRD.
  Over the last three decades, dialysis facilities have provided 
services to increasing numbers of kidney failure patients under 
increasingly strict quality standards; however, during this same time 
frame reimbursement for kidney services has not kept pace with the 
increasing demands of providing dialysis care.
  While these efforts were a step in the right direction, a recent 
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) report suggests that we 
must take further action to sustain patients' access to dialysis 
services. In particular, MedPAC recommends a 1.2 percent payment 
adjustment for Medicare-covered dialysis services in the next fiscal 
year. In addition, MedPAC recommends that the Health Care Financing 
Administration provide an annual review of the dialysis payment rate--a 
review that most other Medicare-covered services receive each year.
  I believe these recommendations represent critical adjustments that 
must be addressed this year. For this reason, I have worked with 
Representative Thurman, Senator Frist, and Senator Conrad to develop 
the Medicare Renal Dialysis Payment Fairness Act of 2000. This 
legislation would provide the payment rate improvements recommended by 
MedPAC and would establish an annual payment review process for 
dialysis services. This proposal would help ensure all dialysis 
providers receive reimbursement that is in line with increasing patient 
load and quality requirements. This is particularly important for our 
nation's smaller, rural dialysis providers that on average receive 
Medicare payments that do not adequately reflect costs.
  As Congress considers further improvements to the Medicare program, I 
urge my colleagues to support this important effort to ensure patients 
with kidney failure continue to have access to quality dialysis 
services. I thank my colleagues for working together on this bipartisan 
and bicameral proposal.

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