DaVita® Medical Insights

There has been much confusion and angst surrounding the regulation rollout of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The rule is complex, requiring…

Despite substantial medical advances and public awareness campaigns on the benefits and importance of kidney transplants, the gap between donor supply and transplant demand continues…

“If living donation is done right, as fortunately it usually is, the donors feel that their lives are improved. It is a life-improving and life-promoting…

Accurate coding is a key factor in optimizing appropriate reimbursement while avoiding penalties from external audits. Medicare and other payers have developed tools to compare…

April is National Donate Life Month (NDLM), a time dedicated to encouraging Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have…

Physicians are often underappreciated for the vital—and extremely challenging—work they do. I would like to take this opportunity on National Doctors’ Day to say something…

As nephrologists, we focus heavily—with good reason—on clinical metrics and protocols. That focus has brought meaningful results: According to the United States Renal Data System,…

Accountable provider organizations of all types (e.g., clinically integrated networks [CINs], independent practice associations [IPAs], multi-specialty groups [MSGs] and accountable care organizations [ACOs])* are increasingly…

Dialysis patients and their families are often unaware of the breadth of support and resources available to them. These include transportation options, support groups, educational…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recognizes that the end stage renal disease (ESRD) population is a complex group in need of integrated…