NMA Thanks Medicare Carrier in South Carolina For Reversing Dialysis Reimbursement Policy 8/7/2003
From: Reese Stone of the National Medical Association, 202-277-7282 (cell) or 202-347-1895 ext. 262, Graham Vink of Fleishman-Hillard, 202-828-9728 or 202-486-0320 (cell) WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 -- The president of the National Medical Association, the nation's largest organization of black physicians, on Thursday thanked the Medicare carrier in South Carolina for reversing a policy that had prevented kidney dialysis patients from receiving an important medication. "We've opposed this policy from the beginning," said Dr. Randall Maxey, a Los Angeles nephrologist. "We are pleased that the Medicare carrier responded to our concerns, especially in light of new research published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine showing how this medication can extend lives. The NMA joins the people of South Carolina in saying 'thank you' for this decision." The decision also was praised by the National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina. "We are glad that this policy has been changed, and feel this will benefit chronic kidney disease patients in South Carolina," said Beth Hughes, chief executive officer. The NMA had criticized the policy especially in view of a new study by Harvard Medical School researcher Ravi Thadhani, MD, that compared outcomes for 67,000 patients at more than 1,000 dialysis clinics across the nation who were treated with two different Vitamin D compounds. Patients treated with paricalcitol injection (Zemplar), which has become the nationwide standard of care, showed a three-year survival rate 16 percent higher than for patients treated with Calcijex, an older Vitamin D medication. For African-American patients treated with Zemplar, the benefit to patients was even more striking: a three-year survival rate 22 percent higher than those treated with Calcijex. African-Americans are disproportionately affected by chronic kidney disease, and in South Carolina, approximately 75 percent of dialysis patients are black. Zemplar is the most widely used Vitamin D therapy for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism, a life-threatening complication of end- stage renal disease that can cause bone disease, nerve damage and coronary artery disease. At both the national and local level, the NMA has fought Medicare proposals that limit coverage of treatment for kidney disease, citing potentially harmful effects on African-American patients. In addition, NMA has launched a national effort to fight disparities in health care delivery, particularly in the area of prostate health, that have resulted in a lower quality of medical care for African-Americans. The NMA has been joined in its opposition to Medicare policies restricting Vitamin D coverage by many other national groups, including the American Medical Association, the National Kidney Foundation, the PKD Foundation, the National Renal Administrators Association, the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. In a June 2001 resolution, the AMA declared that that "the practice of medicine must be left to the physician, and decisions must be made in partnership with the patient and not by government entities" such as Medicare. Founded in 1895, the National Medical Association comprises over 25,000 African-American physicians. It is the leading force for parity and justice in medicine and the elimination of disparities in health care treatment and delivery. For more information, visit its Web site at http://www.NMAnet.org For additional information: Dr. Randall Maxey, President, National Medical Association, Washington, D.C., Contact through Reese Stone, National Medical Association. Cell (best number to call): 202-277-7282; Office: 202-347-1895 ext. 262 Beth Hughes, CEO, NKF of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. Phone: 803-799-3870 SOURCE: National Medical Association (NMA) |