This bill amends the Social Security Act to clarify that Medicare may cover and separately pay for "palliative dialysis services" provided to people who elect hospice care. It adds a definition of palliative dialysis services and of a palliative dialysis eligible individual (an individual with end-stage renal disease who was receiving dialysis and then elected hospice). The bill requires the Medicare Secretary to create, by rule, a payment method starting in 2026 for palliative dialysis given in a dialysis facility or at home. The Secretary must consider existing dialysis payment rules and assess resources when setting payment rates. The bill generally limits payment to ten dialysis sessions (with a method to convert home dialysis days to session equivalents), but allows the Secretary to review and change that limit beginning for 2029. Deductibles and coinsurance that apply to other kidney dialysis services also apply to these palliative dialysis payments. The bill clarifies it does not change coverage or payment for treatment or maintenance dialysis when a hospice election is for a condition other than end-stage renal disease.
No publicly available information on the bill's overall federal cost or budget estimate. The bill directs separate Medicare payments for palliative dialysis services and specifies that usual deductible and coinsurance for kidney dialysis services will apply to these payments.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.