The pandemic elevated the acceptance of telemedicine. Both physicians and patients recognized its abilities during the times of quarantine- approaching some 32% of all office and outpatient health encounters. I really thought this could be the boost the technology needed to turn the corner. (I’ve been advocating telemedicine for 40 years- always expecting it to take off.)
Continue reading Telemedicine is in trouble as the pandemic wanes
It’s been a year or so since TheDonald issued his executive orders covering dialysis procedures. The goals were laudable- more transplants and more home dialysis.
Continue reading A squelched executive order
I am sure you are all wondering what’s been happening about the dialysis patient organizations- and, now, it seems that some dialysis clinics- are paying the health insurance premiums for dialysis patients. (I first discussed this issue here). There is a new complainant- it’s not just private insurance companies now.
Continue reading Creative Accounting or Illegal Practice?
Here it comes again! On 1 July, CMMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) proposed cutting the payment of dialysis allocations by 12%. (For those of you not well versed in math- that’s about a 1/8 cut.) But, that’s not quite right, since they also offered a 2.6% increase in the “bundle” payment rate, so the cut comes to about $ 24 less per treatment.
Continue reading The Sky is Falling! Really?
