[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7752-S7753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CONRAD (for himself and Mr. Santorum):
  S. 2614. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
improve the benefits under the medicare program for beneficiaries with 
kidney disease, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the End Stage 
Renal Disease Modernization Act, designed to improve the quality of 
care and quality of life for the more than 300,000 Americans with end 
stage renal disease (ESRD).
  To avoid death, patients with ESRD must receive a kidney transplant 
or undergo dialysis. As you know, the shortage of organs makes 
transplantation a limited option for the vast majority of patients. 
Therefore, most rely upon 3-4 hour dialysis treatments three times a 
week to save their lives.
  Congress must honor its commitment to Americans with ESRD by bringing 
the Medicare ESRD program into the 21st Century. As we recognized in 
other areas of health care, education serves as a valuable tool in the 
fight of any chronic disease. ESRD is no exception. This bill would 
establish educational programs to teach individuals about the factors 
that lead to chronic kidney disease, the precursor to kidney failure, 
and how to prevent it, treat it, and avoid kidney failure. It would 
also support programs for patients once they have kidney failure to 
assist them in developing self-management skills that could 
dramatically improve their quality of life.
  Another important factor that influences patients' quality of life is 
the method of dialysis they select. Although most patients must receive 
in-center hemodialysis, some can benefit from home dialysis. In rural 
communities, like so many in North Dakota, home dialysis proves an 
important option for patients who do not have dialysis facilities near 
their homes. In

[[Page S7753]]

this measure, we would require HHS to determine how to provide 
incentives for home dialysis.
  The bill also incorporates provisions to provide for an annual update 
mechanism from legislation that my colleague Senator Santorum and I 
introduced at the beginning of this Congress. As we have discussed many 
times in this Chamber, the ESRD Program is the only major Medicare 
reimbursement system that does not have an annual update mechanism to 
adjust the payment rates for changes in input prices and inflation.
  Since the inception of the Medicare ESRD program, we have made 
enormous strides in extending the lives and the quality of life of 
patients with kidney failure. If we are to continue that course, we 
must allow the program to keep pace with advances and changes in the 
delivery of services. We must also ensure that patients receive the 
best information possible so they can make informed choices and provide 
incentives that promote the highest quality of care. The End Stage 
Renal Disease Modernization Act is a comprehensive bill that moves the 
program in that direction. Thus, I urge my colleagues to join with me 
in sponsoring this important legislation.
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