Recent News: Senate Bill to Improve Accreditation Process for Dialysis Clinics

Most health care providers are able to seek certification from third party accreditors—except for dialysis clinics, which often have to wait months or even years to receive accreditation to bill Medicare for ESRD services. However, that may change with a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on August 3. The bill, S.1729, known as the Dialysis Access Improvement Act, would give dialysis clinics the option to seek certification from an approved third party. It is the companion bill to H.R. 3166—part of the Medicare Part B Improvement Act, which has passed the House and now only needs to pass the Senate to be signed into law by the president.

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), who introduced S.1729 with Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), said the bipartisan legislation “will allow dialysis care facilities to utilize the same accreditation processes available to other Medicare providers to avoid unnecessary delays while still guaranteeing quality care.”

This is an important step to better serve our most vulnerable patients. Join me in supporting this critical legislation and bring the kidney care community in line with other Medicare providers.