KDOQI PUBLIC POLICY

KDOQI provides input on policy issues that affect the implementation of KDOQI guidelines.

• Advocating for Quality Care in Implementation of the Kidney Disease provisions in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) and the Conditions of Coverage for ESRD Facilities.
  
  Since the patient outcomes will be affected by the manner in which CMS implements these policies, e.g. bundling of payment for dialysis services, required Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement programs in dialysis clinics, and Quality Incentive reimbursement for dialysis providers it will be important to foresee and prevent unintended consequences.
  
• Improving access to early transplantation as recommended by KDOQI consensus conference. This includes removal of barriers to early transplant referral, ensuring access to transplantation for all suitable candidates, reducing the financial discentives for living donation. End the Wait!
  
• Increasing funding for kidney-related research at the NIH, so the agency can address research recommendations published in KDOQI guidelines.

KDOQI Public Policy Committee Vice Chair

Director of the Chronic Kidney Disease program at the Cleveland Clinic, and staff physician in the Transplantation Center Department of Nephrology and Hypertension within the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute at Cleveland Clinic