Quality Incentive Program Results: Continuous Improvement in the Dialysis Industry

The dialysis industry continues to improve quality outcomes year after year, as evidenced by the newly released End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP) scores. As part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ ESRD program aimed at improving the quality of care for Medicare patients, the ESRD QIP was initially implemented in calendar year 2010 / payment year 2012 as the nation’s first pay-for-performance QIP.

This year, all dialysis providers improved key clinical outcome metrics. Results included a/an:¹

• 18 percent reduction in central venous catheters
• 14 percent decrease in Infection rates
• 5 percent improvement in dialysis adequacy

In addition to improving outcomes as measured by the QIP, many members of the dialysis community are also working with Congress to improve patient care through The Dialysis Patient Access to Integrated-care, Empowerment, Nephrologists, and Treatment Services (PATIENTS) Demonstration Act, which, if enacted, would give more dialysis patients receiving access to high-quality, integrated care. The bi-partisan proposal would establish an integrated care program in which interdisciplinary teams, led by a nephrologist, provide holistic management for all of a patient’s health care needs.

As we continue to improve patient care, we have the ability to make a real, lasting difference for our patients and for the entire health care system.

¹ 2018 CMS Quality Incentive Program Results.