Bill Text: IN HR0057 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urging study committee on issues concerning kidney dialysis.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-04-21 - First reading: adopted voice vote [HR0057 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-HR0057-Introduced.html
A HOUSE RESOLUTION urging the Legislative Council
to assign issues surrounding kidney dialysis to interim study.
Whereas, dialysis is a life sustaining treatment that removes
waste, salts and fluids from the body and is required when an
individual's kidneys are not capable of performing this function;
and,
Whereas, there are 127 dialysis facilities in Indiana, which
currently treat nearly seven thousand Hoosiers who suffer from
kidney failure; and,
Whereas, dialysis patients spend an average of 3 hours a
day on 3 days a week undergoing dialysis treatment; and,
Whereas, empirically based research reveals that there are increasing incidents where the safety and quality of dialysis centers in the United States threaten the lives of the people who
receive such services; and,
Whereas, the quality of dialysis care in the United States
lags behind many industrialized nations; and,
Whereas, dialysis care offered in other developed countries
is less costly and results in fewer losses of life; and,
Whereas, Indiana is ranked 45 of 50 states based on the
percentage of Medicare patients who receive successful dialysis
treatments indicated by adequate removal of waste from their
blood; and,
Whereas, 17% of Indiana Medicare patients have high
hemoglobin values, putting them at risk for strokes, heart
attacks, and heart disease; and,
Whereas, 3% of Indiana Medicare patients have low
hemoglobin values, putting them at risk for anemia and need for
red blood cell transfusions; and,
Whereas, national studies show that the number of persons
experiencing Chronic Kidney Disease has risen from one in ten
to one in every seven or eight people older than age of 20; and,
Whereas, the annual cost for dialysis, according to 2008
data from the United States Renal Data System ranges from
$53,000 per patient for peritoneal dialysis to $72,000 per
patient for hemodialysis; and,
Whereas, the Federal government has established the Renal
Network System to regulate and monitor dialysis care; and,
Whereas, Indiana State Board of Health performs survey
inspections of Indiana's dialysis centers, subject to guidelines
and available funding from the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services; and,
Whereas, the federal government spends more than $20
billion annually for dialysis treatment; and,
Whereas, the dialysis care industry in the United States yields a $2 billion annual profit to corporations providing the services; and,
Whereas, the continuing consolidation of dialysis centers
under two national dialysis providers creates concerns about
affordability and access to this life-saving treatment; and,
Whereas, the Interim Study Committee on Dialysis
Coverage of 2008 issued recommendations primarily related to
benefits, billing and contract disputes; and,
Whereas, the federal government has agreed, based on
encouragement by United States Senator Chuck Grassley to
address the growing national concern about quality and cost of
dialysis treatment: Therefore,
SECTION 1. That the Indiana House of Representatives seriously
endeavors to meet a sustained goal of improving the safety and quality
of dialysis centers for Hoosiers and establishes an Interim Study
Committee on Dialysis Treatment, Oversight, and Quality of Care to
review and make recommendations about:
" The sufficiency of the state survey process as determined by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in terms of oversight
" The safety and quality of care provided to Indiana's dialysis
community
" Whether the current practices in the provision of dialysis care
contributes to health disparities in health outcomes for Indiana
residents
" The access of dialysis care to Hoosiers in need around the state
" Issues related to dialysis center owners and operators in Indiana
" The sufficiency of the state's interface with Federal officials
regarding the oversight of dialysis center
DR 4830/DI lb
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