Medicare from A to D: What Every Nephrologist Needs to Know

[摘要] In 1972, the Congress of the United States put insurance coverage for ESRD under Medicare. Thus, most patients who required dialysis and transplantation in the United States were covered by this program, enabling widespread application of these treatments for kidney failure. The system of coverage is complex, and often patients and their physicians are confused about the regulations and intricacies of the system. The purpose of this article is to simplify Medicare from the perspective of a day-to-day financial counselor to patients in an active kidney transplant program. It is hoped that this article will leave the reader with three things: (1) A greater knowledge of Medicare's part in covering the expenses for ESRD treatment, (2) a grasp of what patients experience in negotiating the financial challenges of receiving dialysis or maintaining a kidney transplant, and (3) inspiration for advocacy on behalf of patients for a stronger Medicare program.

[学科分类] 泌尿医学

[关键词] Bone marrow necrosis;Sickle cell disease;Hyperhemolysis syndrome