We’ve discussed the new wearable kidney and the new home dialysis device. Today, we’ll discuss an implantable device- one that replaces the dialysis device, but not the kidneys. Which will have to do until there is a stem-cell kidney replacement.
Continue reading Implantable Dialyzer
As I’ve said, November is a big month for learning about new ideas in kidney transplant, replacement, and dialysis therapy. Today, we’ll discuss one of the newer innovations- a wearable artificial kidney, with its current design of 10 pounds and power supplied by 9 volt batteries.
Continue reading 24 hours or bust?
I published my thoughts on home dialysis and why the practice is not prevalent yesterday. And, while I wrote that post more than a month ago, it was percolating in the queue all along. So, I can’t really say that the government attempted to refute my findings- since their reach (approved 16 October, but published on 16 November) never had the opportunity to review my thoughts. But, I will discuss theirs, today.
Continue reading You get what you pay for!
Yesterday, we discussed the fact that dialysis costs have been pretty static at around $ 30K a year for decades. Mostly because of the improvements to technology and therapy that folks like me developed over the years. And, because the US government pays for it- and sets the price. A system that often arouses grumbling among those providing the care.
It’s November- which means the big research about dialysis is discussed.
The ASN (American Society of Nephrology) meeting was one of the highlights of the year (about the same time as the annual meetings of the AIChE and ACS [American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Society])- plus the May meeting for ASAIO (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs) that provided lots of great opportunities to learn and network for me. (As I got older and could more easily travel overseas, the EDTA [European Dialysis and Transplant Association] garnered my attention, too.)
Continue reading Dialysis revisited
Is it fair to work for a new federal program, if it will personally benefit you? Even if it will truly benefit thousands of others? That is something with which I am struggling right now.
Continue reading Public Benefit and Personal Gain???
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?
[Author’s Note: I thought this was published last week. I guess the holidays took more out of me than I thought…]
Continue reading The Dialysis Bundle May Provide Clues for the Future Health Care Policy
