Southern West Virginia News

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) in commending the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for including home dialysis services for patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in their Calendar Year 2025 (CY25) End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Proposed Rule. In October 2023, Congresswoman Miller and Congresswoman DelBene led a letter to CMS requesting coverage of home dialysis services for Medicare patients with AKI. On June 27, 2024, CMS released the CY25 ESRD PPS Proposed Rule, which proposes to extend Medicare payment to dialysis in the home setting for beneficiaries with AKI.

“Allowing patients to receive dialysis services from the comfort of their home can dramatically improve physical health outcomes, mental health, and quality of life. I, along with Congresswoman DelBene, sent a letter to CMS to advocate for access to at-home dialysis treatments for patients with acute kidney injury, and I am thrilled that CMS listened. Patients with AKI often require dialysis even after they are stable enough to leave the hospital, and this policy will give those patients the freedom and flexibility to dialyze and regain kidney function at home. We appreciate CMS taking active steps to grant more coverage to those who need it most,” said Congresswoman Miller.

“We can make a difference for the 37 million Americans living with kidney diseases by advancing policies that improve their lives and health outcomes. This includes expanding access to home dialysis so patients aren’t forced to go to a center for hours a day to receive this life-sustaining care. Empowering patients with in-home treatments leads to better health outcomes and dramatic improvements in quality of life. It’s clear the U.S. is way behind our allies in providing this care option. I’m pleased that CMS has followed our call and is proposing to cover this option for the thousands of Medicare patients with acute kidney injury and urge them to quickly finalize this rule. I look forward to working with CMS to continue finding ways to improve the lives of Americans living with kidney diseases,” said Congresswoman DelBene.

Background:

Congresswoman Miller has been an advocate for kidney patients across West Virginia and the United States:

- Rep. Miller, Colleagues Send Letter to Medicare to Expand Access to Home Dialysis for Acute Kidney Injury Patients

- Miller's Kidney PATIENT Act Passes the Ways and Means Committee

- Miller, Sewell Introduce the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act

- Op-Ed: We Must Help Improve the Outlook for Individuals Living with Chronic Kidney Disease

- Rep. Miller Attends Ribbon Cuttings' and Visits Fresenius Kidney Care Appalachian Dialysis Clinic in Beckley, WV