Conditions for Coverage
(CFC)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule that will modernize the Medicare Conditions for Coverage (CFC) for the nation’s dialysis centers and promote higher quality of care for patients receiving dialysis.
The final regulation will enhance the quality of care available to more than 336,000 Medicare beneficiaries with End-State Renal Disease (ESRD) who receive dialysis treatment from more than 4,700 Medicare-approved renal dialysis facilities across the U.S. The regulation reflects important clinical and scientific advances in dialysis technology and standards of care practices. The regulation also updates the current requirements that were first published in 1976.
Dialysis facilities must meet CFC to be certified under the Medicare program. Facilities will have 180 days from April 15, 2008 to be in compliance with the new rules.
Conditions for Coverage (CFC) - Please note the complete document is 625 pages in length; the actual rule begins on page 557.
ESRD Program Interpretive Guidelines
ESRD Update: Transitioning to New ESRD Conditions for Coverage - Student manual and resources from training seminar on September 23 - 26, 2008, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Information for Employers - Complying with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
Do you still have a question about ESRD Conditions for Coverage? Click here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to the New End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Conditions for Coverage (CfCs)™: Wave One
CMS wants to promote common understandings about the regulatory process and the specific rules that guide the CMS survey and certification process. In order to promote common understandings and consistency of standards and expectations regarding the new ESRD CfCs, they are distributing a series of FAQs that are related to those CfCs. The first of this series of Questions and Answers (Wave One) can be found here.
CMS will continue to publish series of FAQs as new questions arise, and encourage those who have further questions to submit them to the CMS mailbox: ESRDsurvey@cms.hhs.gov.
Kidney Disease and Quality of Life (KDQOL™-36) Survey
Based on the requirements in the Conditions for Coverage, and the health-related quality of life survey that CMS has adopted as a new CPM, a facility must administer the KDQOL™-36 at least once per year. The KDQOL™-36 is a multi-purpose, short-form health survey with only 36 questions that includes physical & mental functioning and kidney-specific information.
The Medical Education Institute, Inc. (MEI)/Life Options (www.lifeoptions.org) designed an online version of the KDQOL™-36 for social workers to gain practice with the tool, see the questions, subscales, norms, and preview the reports and evidence-based suggestions for improving scores. Take the survey here - as a hypothetical patient. Note: Currently, the online survey does not save data. It was created as a learning tool for renal professionals. However, a subsequent project is planned for late winter that will let facilities score patient and facility data and track it on your unit’s computer.
Measurement Assessment Tool (MAT)
The Measurement Assessment Tool (MAT) is a helpful guide for all the clinical measurements that will be reviewed by a state surveyor when they conduct their certification renewal. The MAT contains the clinical standard, measure and value. The reference document is listed to find the source materials of the measure. This tool has been given to state surveyors from CMS Survey and Certification.
NANT Offers Study Package for Dialysis Technicians
The New Conditions for Coverage require all dialysis technicians be certified by January 2010. The National Association of Nephrology Technicians (NANT) has prepared a special Study Package for technicians to use in preparing for certification. This Study Package provides a $40 savings compared to purchasing the books separately. NANT offers the best exam prep books for technicians.
To order the Study Package, please visit the NANT web-store at www.dialysistech.net