Leaders Gather in Washington to Seek Policy Solutions for Improving Home Dialysis

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, more than fifty invited leaders in the field of kidney dialysis – including patients, clinicians, industry, and policymakers – assembled in Washington, D.C. for the first-ever National Summit on Home Dialysis Policy.  The group came together to identify common concerns and opportunities to drive appropriate utilization of home dialysis and identify pathways for collaborative action.  Home dialysis, including peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis, are alternatives to in-center treatment, which requires patients to visit a clinic or hospital three to four times per week.

While peer-reviewed medical literature reflects broad support for home dialysis – including improved outcomes associated with greater consistency of treatments, enhanced patient satisfaction, and improved quality of life – less than ten percent of U.S. dialysis patients receive treatment at home, according to a recent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission report to Congress.

Dr. Rajnish Mehrotra, a Summit delegate and speaker, said of the event, "The need for home dialysis in the U.S. will continue to rise with the growing numbers of End Stage Renal Disease patients. Now is a crucial time to assess what more we can do to better enable patients access to all the treatment options they require and home dialysis is an important modality."

In a letter to Summit delegates, the Honorary Congressional Co-Chairs of the Summit – Tom Marino (R-PA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), and John Fleming (R-LA) – applauded participants for coming together, noting, "The importance of this conversation has only been heightened in recent years, as policymakers work to constrain rising health care costs while ensuring that all individuals – particularly those in high-risk, low access populations – continue to have access to high quality care."

Organizers of the event will issue a report following the event highlighting the day's key discussions and areas of consensus policy recommendations.  For additional information on the event, the steering committee or any of the materials presented, please visit www.homedialysissummit.org.

The Summit was made possible by the generous support of the following organizations: Affymax/Takeda; American Society of Nephrology; Baxter; DaVita, Inc.; Dialysis Patient Citizens; National Kidney Foundation; Northwest Kidney Centers; NxStage Medical; Renal Physicians Association; and Satellite Healthcare.

SOURCE National Summit on Home Dialysis Policy