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News Bulletins 2004 |
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News Bulletins 2004 |
| Topic Index |
| Topic Index |
21 Dec 2004 There is a later bulletin on the 2004 Annual Facility Survey.
Revised Annual Facility Survey Form 2744
The CMS Annual Facility Survey (Form 2744) has been revised. Transplant centers now have their own form (CMS-2744B), and there are several new sections on the Dialysis Facility version (CMS-2744A), including information on staffing, vocational rehabilitation, facility ownership, modalities offered, evening shifts, and number of stations. Each facility must complete one of these forms describing their patient census during 2004. We will mail you your official CMS-2744 form in January 2005, but you can view the new Annual Facility Survey in advance at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/esrd/5.asp.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
20 Dec 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
New ESRD Composite Rates Effective 1 January 2005
The CMS "Medlearn Matters" bulletin at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2005/MM3554.pdf summarizes the ESRD composite payment rate adjustments that take effect on 1 January 2005, and describes how to stay current with them.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
20 Dec 2004 The American Nephrology Nurses Association has published two useful new documents. The Peritoneal Dialysis Travel Tool Box is a collection of resources for PD providers and PD nurses, and includes a 20-page booklet for patients that includes . The Transplantation Fact Sheet is a four-page summary, for patients and patient educators, of risks and responsibilities, including information on the immunosuppressive drug regimen. You can find them at http://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/practice/pdToolbox.pdf and http://www.annanurse.org/download/reference/practice/transplant.pdf.
New ANNA Documents - Travel for PD Patients - TransplantationTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
6 Dec 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
Conditions of Coverage Revision
According to NephNewsWire, CMS has announced that revisions to the ESRD Conditions of Coverage regulation are expected to be released on 23 December 2004. When they're posted, a 90-day comment period will begin.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
6 Dec 2004 Medical Newswire reminds us at http://medicalnewswire.com/artman/publish/medicalnews.shtml#4617 that there will be no grace period when the new CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS codes go into effect on 1 January.
CPT Code ChangesTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
1 Dec 2004 We've mailed Fistula First Progress Reports to each facility. The Reports include facility-specific data showing access rates each month from January to August 2004, and graphs allowing each facility to compare their outcomes to other facilities in their state, the Network, and the nation. Copies of the state graphs are on our website. Each facility has been assigned a number, which is their numerical AVF rate rank within their state. Medical Directors and Facility Represtatives have received only their own number along with their mailing. As of August, for prevalent hemodialysis patients, we're up to 55.4% fistulas in use and 63.8% placed, and for incident patients, 44.4% placed. The October data is just in and a preliminary look shows 55.8% fistulas in use and 64.6% placed for prevalent patients and 44.4% placed for incident patients. We're still below our 60% goal for incident patients.
Fistula First Progress ReportsTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
15 Nov 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
Review of National Cadaveric Organ Allocation System
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) have announced a comprehensive review of the national system for allocating deceased donor kidneys. You can find full details at http://www.unos.org/policiesAndBylaws/publicComment/proposals.asp. OPTN/UNOS would like your response before 1 February 2005. Some of the issues have been in the news lately, such as http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1395352004 and http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/12/03/online_organ_linkups_spur_debate_alarm/.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
11 Nov 2004 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that the remaining flu vaccine doses will be distributed to State Health Departments for allocation to people with the greatest need for it. Dialysis facilities who do not have enough vaccine should contact their State Health Department as soon as possible. The complete CDC press release can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r041109.htm.
Dialysis Facilities: Contact Your State Health Department for Flu Vaccine AllocationsTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
3 Nov 2004 The next CMS ESRD and Clinical Labs Open Door Forum is scheduled for 11am-1pm PST on 19 November. To attend, dial 800-837-1935 and specify conference ID 4345723. You can also listen to a recording of the call between 22 November and 25 November by calling 800-642-1687 and specifying the same conference ID.
ESRD Open Door Forum 19 NovemberTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
3 Nov 2004 CMS has issued the final rule on changes in Medicare payment schedules for 2005. ESRD-relevant segments are summarized on RenalWEB at http://www.renalweb.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000578.html.
Final 2005 Medicare Payment ChangesTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
1 Nov 2004 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are working together to identify high-risk populations to guide them in redistribution of influenza vaccine. ESRD patients are part of that population and the CDC is looking for data to assess the degree of vaccine shortage for them. We have asked all Dialysis Facility Administrators to provide information on the experience at each facility. For RCG, FMC, DaVita, Gambro, and DCI facilities, this information has already been submitted to CMS at the corporate level. Because time is of the essence, all 18 ESRD Networks are participating in a short-turnaround survey (3 days) on behalf of CMS and the CDC. The survey requests information on patient vaccinations only. The survey form can be seen at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/news/flusurvey.htm. Responses have been requested by CMS by Thursday, November 4, 2004.
Flu Vaccine Needs AssessmentTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
25 Oct 2004 We've taken the information and links on our website that are relevant for people with kidney disease, and organized them into an index, at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/patients.htm. Your suggestions for improvements will be appreciated.
New Index of Information for PatientsTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
25 Oct 2004 There are two forms of immunization for flu - the flu shot, and the FluMist nasal spray. The CDC specifically recommends that people with kidney disease NOT take the FluMist nasal spray. The professional staff who treat people with kidney disease, and others in close contact with people who have kidney disease, should also NOT take FluMist, since it contains weakened live virus which can spread to another person, and people with kidney disease are vulnerable to serious illness from the flu virus. The complete current CDC recommendation sheet for FluMist can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/vis/vis-flulive.pdf (English) and http://www.immunize.org/vis/spliveflu04.pdf (español). The complete current CDC recommendation sheet for the flu shot can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/vis/vis-flu.pdf (English) and http://www.immunize.org/vis/spflu04.pdf (español). The current flu shot recommendations are also available in fifteen other languages, and in audio form for English and español, from http://www.immunize.org/vis/index.htm#influenza.
FluMist NOT recommended for Kidney Patients or People Close to ThemTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
21 Oct 2004 We've collected several bulletins about this year's flu shot. The shortest one, which also happens to be specific to ESRD patients, is a reprint of an article from the ANNA Western Region Newsletter called "Focus on...Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations for ESRD Patients and Staff Caring for Them." The second one was written for the general public by CMS and the CDC, called "Important News About Flu Shots for People with Medicare." The last two are from the CDC, one aimed at the general public called "Interim Influenza Vaccination Recommendations 2004-05 Influenza Season," and one for clinicians called "Influenza Antiviral Medications: 2004-05 Interim Chemoprophylaxis and Treatment Guidelines."
Flu ShotsTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
21 Oct 2004 There is a later article on this topic.
Nutrition Module of Kidney School Now in Print Version
The Life Options Kidney School has released print versions of its module on Nutrition and Fluids for People on Dialysis (module number 9). There are four different versions, for diabetic and non-diabetic patients on HD, and on PD. Each includes a 2-week sample menu with recipes. Topics include nutrition basics, getting the right amounts of key nutrients, vitamins, limiting fluids and dealing with thirst, using food value books, planning meals and eating out, tips for gaining and losing weight, and strategies for change. Kidney School is designed to inspire, motivate, and empower people with chronic kidney disease stages 3-5 to take an active role in their healthcare and improve their chances to live long and live well. Also see our earlier bulletins on Kidney School and nutrition.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
8 Oct 2004 The CDC has issued a bulletin with guidelines on water treatment for dialysis and other purposes under a "Boil Water Advisory" from your local water utility. The guidelines, at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/dialysis/boilwater_advisory.htm, discuss reverse osmosis, deionization, ultrafiltration, and hyperchlorination under such an advisory.
CDC Advisory on "Boil Water Alerts"TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
8 Oct 2004 ANNA, the American Nephrology Nurses' Association, is preparing a series of six online education modules on "Partnering for Quality Care, a CE Program for Chronic Kidney Disease Clinicians." The first module - "Stage 5 CKD - Hemodialysis in the Long Term Care Setting" - is now available, in PDF and PowerPoint formats, and offers 1.5 CE credit. The module is free; there is a fee for the CE credits. Future modules will be on pre-ESRD CKD, PD, Pediatric CKD, and Transplantation.
ANNA Online Educational Module on Hemodialysis in LTCTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
30 Sep 2004 The National Kidney Foundation ("NKF") Kidney Learning System has initiated a newsletter called Chronic Kidney Disease Best Practices, to be published every two months and distributed to all dialysis facilities and all Renalink subscribers, including all professional members of NKF. The first issue contained articles on K/DOQI, bone disease, and an ongoing international study called DOPPS that's comparing practices around the world. For instance, in the US only one patient in six begins dialysis on an AVF, while in Europe and Japan four out of six do. You can find the first issue at http://www.kidney.org/kls/pdf/BestPracticeSU04.pdf. The second issue is on anemia, and is being printed now. Future issues will be posted at http://www.kidney.org/kls/professionals/bp-about.cfm.
NKF CKD Best Practices NewsletterTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
29 Sep 2004 The Medibo Minerva Patient Lift, models ML-20 and ML-30, have been recalled for inspection and repair because of "mechanical problems that could result in serious patient injury." The FDA's recall notice is at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/recalls/recall-080404.html and the Medibo press release at http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/medibo08_04.html.
Medibo Minerva Patient Lift RecallTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
29 Sep 2004 The Oregon Chapter of the National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists ("NANT") presents a one-day educational conference in Portland on 17 October. There is no cost, and 7 CEUs are provided. Presentation topics include Professionalism, Medicare Inspections, Tech Certification, Network Oversight, Water Treatment, Disaster Prep, and the Patient's Perspective. Location, schedule, faculty, and registration instructions are at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/news/ornant04.doc.
Oregon NANT Educational Conference 17 OctoberTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
16 Sep 2004 We've added to our website two useful articles on foot care for diabetic patients. One is written for patients, "Footcare: for Patients with Diabetes...Simple Steps Can Save Feet," reprinted from our own Winter 2001/2002 Consumer News. You can find it at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/news/footcare.pdf. The other is intended for dialysis facility staff, "Focus on... Diabetic Feet - Who's Checking," by our Network Quality Improvement Coordinator, reprinted from the ANNA Western Region newsletter. It can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/news/diabeticfootcare.doc.
Diabetic Foot CareTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
16 Sep 2004 The 2004 Dialysis Facility Reports, prepared by the University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology Cost Center have been mailed by the Network. One copy has been sent directly to each facility, addressed "Attn: Medical Director." Another copy has been sent to each facility's Administrator, Facility Representative, or CEO. Where one person covers multiple facilities, reports were grouped and sent to their primary mailing address. Some of the information on these reports will be posted on the CMS Dialysis Facility Compare website in November, and the full report will be shared with each facility's State Survey Agency in October, so it is important to review these reports and register comments or complaints about them if they do not appear to be accurate. Comments and complaints must be registered by 10 October, at the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care website, http://www.cfmc.org/esrddata/. Instructions for registering comments and complaints were mailed with the reports. Facility comments and complaints will be forwarded to State Survey Agencies with their copy of the reports.
Dialysis Facility Report Comments DeadlineTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
15 Sep 2004 We have received the new ESRD Death Notification forms, CMS 2746-U3 (10/04), and are mailing them to all facilities today. You may start using the new forms as soon as you receive them. Please destroy all of the old forms, CMS-2746-U3 (8-96), when you receive the new forms. If you have any old 2746 forms in process, please complete and mail them in as soon as possible. Since Network software will be changed to accommodate the new form, we will not be able to enter and process old forms received in our office after 12 October. If you don't receive the new forms by Monday 27 September, please notify the Network Data Manager at (206) 923-0714 Ext.106.
New ESRD Death Notification FormsTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
15 Sep 2004 The Washington End of Life Consensus Coalition and the Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Organization are jointly presenting a one-day educational conference on 22 October titled Understanding the Diversity of Human Experience at Life’s End, a conference on cultural diversity and end of life care designed for physicians, interdisciplinary palliative care and hospice team members, health care workers, social workers, and the general public, especially members of faith, ethnic or philosophical communities. You can find more information, including CME and CE details, in this press release from the Washington State Medical Association, and in the conference brochure and registration form at http://www.wshpco.org/.
End of Life ConferenceTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
10 Sep 2004 CMS has added a Spanish version of their booklet Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis, called Prepárese para Emergencias: Una guia para personas en diálisis. Both versions are available on the internet, in Spanish at http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10150_S.pdf and in English at http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10150.pdf. You may also order printed copies of either booklet by faxing a request to 410-786-1905 Attention:Publications, and including your name and address, publication name and publication number (10150_S for Spanish and 10150 for English), and the quantity of booklets in each language that you need.
Emergency Preparedness Guide for People on Dialysis, in English and SpanishTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
8 Sep 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
Bone Disease Guidelines
The Renal Network of the Upper Midwest ("Network 11") is converting the K/DOQI Bone Metabolism and Disease Clinical Practice Guidelines to Clinical Performance Measures ("CPMs") so they can more easily be used to monitor bone disease in CKD patients. The project is described at http://www.esrdnet11.org/quality/bone_project.asp. If you have expertise on CKD bone disease, you're encouraged to provide input via the online form linked from that page. You can request a printed copy of the form, or seek further details, by calling 651-644-9877 or emailing bone@nw11.esrd.net. Network 11 also has a number of bone disease protocols and algorithms posted on their website, at http://www.esrdnet11.org/quality/bone_protocols.asp. (Links corrected 20 January 2005).TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
8 Sep 2004 There is a later bulletin on this - see 15 September.
New Death Form
CMS Death Notification Form CMS-2746 has been revised, and as soon as we get copies of the new form we will mail them to all facility Data Coordinators. The new form will be labeled "2746-U3 (01/04)" and on 1 October will replace the old forms labeled "2746-U3 (8-96)." The new form should also be available soon at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/forms/.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
3 Sep 2004 The National Vascular Access Improvement Initiative ("NVAII") has prepared a list of suggested comments on CMS's proposal for reimbursement of vessel mapping procedures in conjunction with creation of a hemodialysis vascular access. The CMS proposal, part of the 2005 Physician Fee Schedule, would pay only surgeons, for vessel mapping in conjunction with access creation. In an effective vascular access program, vessel mapping may also be done by radiologists or nephrologists or others, and it may be done in conjunction with access planning, not just the actual surgery. NVAII's suggestions can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/venousmapcomments.doc, along with a summary of the instructions for submitting comments.
Vein Mapping Reimbursement ProposalTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
24 Aug 2004 We've put the Spanish version of our What's Your Access-Ability? article on our website next to the English version. The article explains for patients, using everyday language, the differences between a fistula and a graft and a catheter, and covers important points about caring for them and detecting infection. They can be found at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/WhatsYourAccessability.pdf for the English version and http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/QueEsSuAccesso.pdf for the Spanish version, ¿Que Es Su Acceso-Abilidad? We've also added links to them on our Fistula First page, http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/fist1st/fist1st.htm. See also our earlier bulletins on Spanish-language patient-education resources.
Vascular Access Article in English and Spanish for PatientsTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
24 Aug 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
EPO Billing Procedures and Codes
CMS has created a webpage describing the new billing codes and procedures for EPO, at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2004/SE0406.pdf. The new page is part of the "Medlearn Matters" series. The portal for the series, which aims to keep Providers informed about changes in Medicare policy, is http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/. An earlier bulletin describes new EPO policy proposals.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
19 Aug 2004 We've added two new Vascular Access tools to our Fistula First page. The first is a trifold brochure for patients called Using the Buttonhole Technique on Your AV Fistula, at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/fist1st/ButtonholeBrochureForPatients1.pdf. Buttonhole is an alternative cannulation technique for arteriovenous fistulas that does not require rotating your needle sites every treatment. The brochure discusses the technique, blunt needles, the difference between "one-site-itis" and buttonhole cannulation, whether it's right for your access, and tips about when to talk to your nephrologist or dialysis nurse. The second is a one-page summary for facilities on How Is Your Facility Monitoring Stenosis? at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/fist1st/StenosisMonitoring.doc, comparing five different monitoring methods. Monitoring stenosis is recommended for all patients with fistulas or grafts by the K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines. If you have any questions or comments about either of these, contact our Quality Improvement Coordinator at 206-923-0714 ext 111.
New Access ToolsTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
18 Aug 2004 At http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/NewsBulletinTopics.htm we've added a topic index for our NWRN Bulletins, so you can more easily find an old bulletin. In case you didn't realize it, we file all of our NWRN Bulletins chronologically on the page you're looking at now. When we have a minor correction or addition, we add it to the filed bulletin, along with cross-references, so this webpage is usually a better source than your email archives. Our historical bulletins were surprisingly easy to index - they fell into five topics: For Patients, For Providers (which didnt fit into any of the last three categories), Facility Staff Education, Recalls and Warnings, and Reimbursement. Know that many of the bulletins in the For-Patients category also contain important information for Providers and Facility Staff.
Topic Index for NWRN Bulletins
While we're on the subject of news bulletins, if you aren't already a frequent visitor, please check out RenalWEB, at http://www.renalweb.com/. RenalWEB is an amazingly comprehensive daily chronicle of everything important having to do with kidneys. The RenalWEB "topics" pages, indexed at http://www.renalweb.com/topics/topicslisting.htm, claim to "organize the best Internet resources available for the purpose of assisting dialysis professionals and patients in staying up-to-date with news, research, and renal education," and they do it well.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
18 Aug 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
Patient Privacy and HIPAA
The HHS Office for Civil Rights ("OCR"), which oversees the privacy provisions of HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), has prepared two new brochures for consumers on health information and privacy. You can find them at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/, along with a parallel summary for healthcare providers, and a great deal of other information, including instructions in English and Spanish for filing complaints. An earlier bulletin tells how to subscribe to OCR's email bulletin list.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
17 Aug 2004 The Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition ("MARC"), with support from CMS, RPA, and the Forum of ESRD Networks, has organized a conference on Caring through the End: Palliative Care along the Continuum of CKD, to be held December 1-3 in Orlando. Look for details at http://www.esrdnet5.org/EOLBrochureReg.pdf. The registration deadline for group rates and hotel discounts is November 1. MARC also has an in-service training module on Caring through the End: Final Stage of CKD, available in either a PDF version or an MSWord version which you may modify for your own local circumstances.
Caring through the EndTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
16 Aug 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
Training Tools on Communication Skills for Providing Quality Care
The Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition and the Academy for Educational Development have built five in-service training modules for dialysis patient care staff, on Communication Skills for Providing Quality Care. They are on the internet at http://www.esrdnet5.org/inservice.asp in both PDF and MSWord formats, so they can be downloaded and used as is, or modified for your local environment. The five topics are Professionalism in Dialysis Care, Patient-Centered Care, When Patients Have Concerns, Fistula First, and Caring Through the End.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
11 Aug 2004 In an earlier bulletin we announced an October conference on Vascular Access in New Orleans - but that conference was last year! Our apologies for any inconvenience we may have caused. The PowerPoint presentations and handouts from it remain valuable, at http://www.network13.org/NAVII/nvaiioct2003.htm.
October Events
We also mentioned a National Vascular Access Improvement Initiative booth at the American Society of Nephrology's Renal Week in St. Louis, and that one is indeed this coming October, 2004.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
11 Aug 2004 CMS's proposed 2005 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is now online at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pfs/2005/1429p.asp. From this page you can download the file "master_background.zip" and find the major dialysis impacts at pp.193ff and pp.327ff, though other sections may be relevant as well. For instance, on pp.125-6 and 389 they discuss a new CPT code for vein mapping. Surgeons are paid for vein mapping in conjuction with HD access placement, but not nephrologists in conjunction with access planning. However, the stated purpose of the new code is to "track the use of venous mapping for quality improvement purposes," so reporting the code when relevant would be beneficial for the long term. You have till 24 September to comment on the proposal, which you may do at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/ecomments. Background material for rate determination can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/physicians/pfs/default.asp.
2005 Physician Fee ScheduleTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
8 Aug 2004 CMS is seeking public comments, through 16 August, concerning their "Proposed Implementation Approach: Federal Funding of Emergency Health Services Furnished to Undocumented Aliens: Federal Fiscal Years 2005 Through 2008," which you can review at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/mma1011.pdf.
Comment Period on Funding for Health Services to Undocumented AliensTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
29 Jul 2004 The 1st ANNUAL Mid-Columbia Nephrology Nurses Seminar will be held in Kennewick WA on October 23-24, 2004 - times and exact location to be announced. The seminar will offer 15-20 contact hours for those with certifications or licenses in states that require proof of continuing education. Saturday will be general Nephrology topics such as transplant, adequacy, anemia, bone disease, etc, and Sunday will be an in-depth course on water treatment for dialysis. You can download a flyer from http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/mcnns1.doc. For more information contact Lyle Smith at 541-567-6974 or Lyle.Smith@FMC-NA.com, or Ann Sullivan at 509-783-7196 or Ann@TCKC.com.
Mid-Columbia Nephrology Nurses SeminarTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
23 Jul 2004 We're pleased to announce that our 2003 Annual Report has been approved and is now available on our website at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/AR2003Text.pdf and the data tables at http://www.nwrenalnetwork.org/AR2003Tables.pdf.
2003 Network Annual ReportTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
22 Jul 2004 There is a correction to this notice - see 11 August.
October Conferences
In New Orleans last October, The University of Oklahoma and ESRD Network 13 sponsored a one-day accredited educational conference on Vascular Access for Hemodialysis, directed by James Donovan, Jr, MD. The full curriculum and faculty are posted at http://www.network13.org/NAVII/nvaiioct2003.htm, including links to the PowerPoint presentations and handouts for all of the sessions. This coming October there will be a National Vascular Access Improvement Initiative booth - Booth #116 - at the American Society of Nephrology's Renal Week in St. Louis.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
20 Jul 2004 There is also a later bulletin on this topic.
Home Dialysis Central Website
The Medical Education Institute has launched a "Home Dialysis Central" ("HDC") website at http://www.homedialysis.org. Designed to serve as an information clearinghouse for both patients and professionals, HDC aims to raise awareness and use of CAPD, CCPD, conventional home hemodialysis, daily home hemodialysis, and nocturnal home hemodialysis.
Features of HDC include: A searchable up-to-date database of clinics offering various home dialysis therapies; Current news on home therapies (courtesy of NephNewsWire) provided by renal trade journal and the HDC sponsor Nephrology News & Issues ("NN&I"); Information about Medicare reimbursement for a home program; Downloadable modality information on each of the five home therapies; Tools to help clinics become certified to offer home dialysis; Professional slide presentations, how-to documents, assessment tools, and bibliographies; A legislative engine, allowing visitors to find and e-mail their legislators to request support or sponsorship of home dialysis bills, or write letters to their local media; Moderated message boards for patients and professionals; Home dialysis patient stories; An equipment catalog; and Annotated links. A national panel of physicians who specialize in home dialysis reviewed featured content. "There's no place like home for dialysis - it gives the best quality of life for patients," says HDC medical reviewer Christopher Blagg, MD, "and there's no place like the HDC website for learning about why you should seriously consider home dialysis."
HDC is supported by the renal community, including all five of the largest dialysis providers. Sponsors include: NN&I, Fresenius, Gambro, Aksys, Baxter, B.Braun, DaVita, DCI, the Forum of ESRD Networks, the Missouri Kidney Program, NxStage, RCG, RenalSolutions, and WellBound.
A detailed article about HDC will be featured in the August issue of NN&I; to subscribe call 800-719-9682 or visit http://nephnews.com.
HDC is administered by the Medical Education Institute, Inc. of Madison, WI. For more information about home dialysis therapies, to request an HDC logo to link to your website, or to learn more about tax-deductible sponsorship of HDC, visit HDC at http://www.homedialysis.org, call 608-833-8033, or e-mail info@homedialysis.org.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
12 Jul 2004 There is a later bulletin on this topic.
Late Payments for HIPAA Noncompliance
As we announced earlier, 1 July was the effective date for the new CMS policy to delay for two weeks payment of non-HIPAA-compliant claims. Ninety percent of claims are now HIPAA compliant. See also other recent HIPAA bulletins.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
9 Jul 2004 There is a later bulletin on this - see 16 September.
2004 Dialysis Facility Reports Schedule
The DFR schedule has slipped a few weeks; here's the current timeline...
The 2004 Dialysis Facility Reports (DFRs), which compute standardized mortality and hospitalization ratios for each facility, along with comparisons of facility adequacy and hematocrit averages to Network and national averages, plus other measures, are due in late August or early September. These reports are prepared from billing data by the University of Michigan Kidney Epiodemiology and Cost Center and the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care. The current schedule looks like this...late August-early September - Network receives reports and mails them to facilitiesFacilities may use the September-October comment procedure to petition CMS to delete information which the facility believes to be inaccurate or inappropriate from the DFC website. Instructions for this process will be mailed with the reports.
September-early October - facilities review reports and register comments at http://www.cfmc.org/esrddata before 10 October
October - copies of the DFRs and facility comments are sent to state survey agencies
November - selected information from the reports is posted on the newly redesigned Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC) website for access by the general publicTOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
9 Jul 2004 There is also a later bulletin on this topic.
EPO Reimbursement Policy
CMS has issued their draft revised policy on EPO reimbursement, and at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/coverage/8b4.pdf invites comments from "interested experts and stakeholders." The comment period will be open for 60 days, evidently beginning 8 July. You can find more details and background information at http://www.renalweb.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000484.html.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
1 Jul 2004 1. Health Canada is investigating cases of possible contamination of hemodialysis machines by compromise of external or internal pressure transducer filter protectors. The Health Canada notice is at
Equipment Cautions and Recalls
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tpd-dpt/hemodialysis_nth_e.html. A more thorough discussion can be found at http://www.renalweb.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000572.html.2. Equipment recalled so far during 2004 is listed and detailed at http://www.renalweb.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/000221.html. In brief, the list includes...
Horizon Medical Circle CAE Dual Lumen Acute HD/Apheresis Catheter Surgical Trays (June)
Baxter HomeChoice and Yume Automated PD Systems (June)
Baxter Renal Software Suite and Renalsoft software (May)
BD Test Strips, BD Latitude and Logic Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems (April)
Baxter Meridian HD Instrument (April)
Arrow International Two Lumen 14F HD Catheter Kits/Sets (March)
Baxter System 1000 Single Patient HD Delivery System (March)
Baxter HomeChoice Automated PD Set (January)
Toray Hollow Fiber Dialyzers (January)
The RenalWeb link includes model and lots numbers, nature and severity of the problems, and links to the relevant FDA Enforcement Reports.TOP OF PAGE BOTTOM OF PAGE
EARLIER BULLETINS
Topic Index
Page updated February 17, 2008