A pending healthcare bill is poised to require private employers to pick up the costs of end-stage renal disease for a longer time, a move which could cost some large employers millions. Right now, patients with private health care plans must wait 33 months before getting Medicare coverage for ESRD treatment, but a provision in the children's health care bill would extend that time period by 12 months. The provision could save Medicare $1.2 billion over 10 years, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. Employers argue that this cost-shift penalizes them unfairly, as their costs for dialysis are higher than Medicare rates. Dialysis for employer group healthcare plans typically costs between $125,000 and $180,000 a year per person.
To find out more about the planned change:
-read this article from The Associated Press