Un-edited statements from the health sector and beyond

Community dialysis house opened in Auckland

Media Statement from health minister Tony Ryall
   
A new South Auckland community dialysis house, officially opened today by Health Minister Tony Ryall, will enable more people receiving dialysis to treat themselves outside of hospital.

In the past four years five community dialysis facilities have opened throughout the country and another one will open in Gisborne later this year. There are also plans for two more dialysis units in Auckland and one in Wanganui.

The new community dialysis house in Mangere, named Calvert House, can accommodate up to 20 people using 10 dialysis machines. It is the third dialysis house in South Auckland and has been established by Kidney Society Auckland in partnership with the Counties Manakau DHB renal service.

"There are more than 2300 people in New Zealand using dialysis to treat renal disease. Slightly more than half of these people manage their own dialysis at home or in the community," said Mr Ryall.

"Self-treatment at home or in the community means people can have a more normal life by fitting in the long treatments - up to six hours three times a week - into their routine, rather than having to attend set times at a hospital dialysis unit. It also frees up space in the hospital dialysis unit for people unable to manage at home or in the community.

"A community dialysis house enables people who don't have suitable houses for a dialysis machine and equipment to treat themselves outside of hospital.

"Calvert House is unstaffed and patients have their own key to come and go as they please, any time of the day or night, giving them flexibility in the time they have their treatment and more control of their lives.

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A diagnosis of kidney failure could be a real shock. And it's becoming more common as the number of Americans with diabetes and high blood pressure grows. But even with this serious diagnosis you can survive and move on.

Medicare can help. The program helps pay for kidney dialysis as well as kidney transplants.

Chronic kidney disease is a serious health problem in the United States. In 2010, more than 20 million Americans aged 20 and older had this disease.

And in 2008, nearly 550,000 Americans were getting treated for end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, which is permanent kidney failure.

Most people have to be at least 65 years old to get Medicare. But people with ESRD can get Medicare at any age. Even children with ESRD can enroll in Medicare.

ESRD is treated by dialysis, a process which cleans your blood when your kidneys don't work. It gets rid of harmful waste, extra salt, and fluids that build up in your body. It also helps control blood pressure and helps your body keep the right amount of fluids.

Dialysis treatments help you feel better and live longer -- but they aren't a cure for permanent kidney failure.

Medicare covers a number of things related to dialysis.

If you're admitted to a hospital for special care, Medicare covers inpatient dialysis treatments under Part A, which is hospital insurance.

Medicare Part B covers outpatient dialysis treatments and doctors' fees for outpatient care.

Part B also pays for self-dialysis training, which includes instruction for you and the person helping you with your home dialysis treatments.

And Part B covers home dialysis equipment and supplies – like the machine and water treatment system – as well as most drugs for home dialysis.

How much would you have to pay for dialysis in a Medicare-certified facility? If you have Original Medicare, you'd pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for all covered services.

Medicare pays the other 80%.

Dialysis and kidney transplants are paid through Original Medicare.

In most cases, you can't join a Medicare Advantage plan if you have end-stage renal disease.

Keep in mind that dialysis can be done in your own home or in a Medicare-certified facility.

Ask your kidney doctor what facility he or she works with. Or you can look for a facility on Medicare's "Dialysis Facility Compare" website.

It's located at www.medicare.gov/dialysis.

The website has important information such as addresses and phone numbers, how far certain facilities are from you, and what kind of dialysis services the facilities offer.

You also can compare facilities by certain quality-of-care information.

If you don't have a computer, you can call us, toll-free, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Medicare Part A also helps pay for hospital inpatient services if you need a kidney transplant.

Medicare will help cover the costs of finding the proper kidney for your transplant, and the full cost of care for your kidney donor.

For more details on transplants, please consult our pamphlet, "Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis & Kidney Transplant Services" (CMS Product No. 10128).

It's available online or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

[David Sayen is Medicare's regional administrator for California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Trust Territories. You can get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).]

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