Services may include:
• home peritoneal dialysis (PD);
• home hemodialysis (HHD);
• in-center dialysis;
• in-center nocturnal dialysis;
• education;
• travel support;
• prescription management;
• disease management;
• insurance and financial management support;
• emergency services.
Payment options
Several options exist for payment of nursing home services, but the primary payment source is Medicare, which provides coverage for people of any age who have End Stage Renal Disease. They are:
• private funds;
• health insurance;
•
Medicare;
• Medicaid;
• VA benefits.
_____ Do you provide home- and facility-based services? What are those services?
_____ What treatment options would you recommend for my lifestyle and condition?
_____ What are the operating hours of the facility?
_____ What time of the day would I receive my treatment?
_____ What kind of training courses do you offer?
_____ Do the in-center dialysis hours or training time for home dialysis treatments meet my scheduling needs?
_____ Do you offer online training?
_____ Do you offer travel support?
_____ Will you arrange for my medications to be delivered?
_____ If I choose in-center care, what am I allowed to bring to make myself more comfortable (i.e., blankets, laptops, snacks)?
_____ What resources are available to help me manage my diet?
_____ Do you have staff available at night and/or weekends for emergencies?
Facility
_____ Does the facility have a warm and inviting feel?
_____ May I see the area where that care will be provided?
_____ What are the facility’s staffing patterns?
_____ Is the location of the facility convenient?
_____ Observe staff and patient interactions. Are they positive? Courteous?
_____ Are the staff and director approachable?
_____ Ask other patients whether staff members handle requests in a timely way.
Care Plan
_____ Does each patient have a written care plan?
_____ Will I be involved in creating that plan?
_____ Who will be primarily responsible for my care?
_____ How does the facility work to provide me with a better quality of life?
Payment
_____ Will you help me determine my payment options?
_____ Will you directly bill to my insurance or Medicare/Medicaid?
_____ How much money will I have to pay out of pocket?
Quality
_____ Is the facility licensed? Ask to review the last Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification survey report.
_____ Does the facility conduct patient-satisfaction surveys? If so, ask to see the latest results.
_____ How does the facility reduce the risk of hospitalization?
References
_____ How long have you been providing services in the community?
_____ Who owns the facility?
_____ Will you provide me a list of references of doctors and other health care providers who are
familiar with your services?
Complaints
_____ Whom should I call with questions or complaints?
_____ Is there a 24-hour telephone number I can call?
End Stage Renal Dialysis Related links
Dialysis Facility Compare
Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services
National Kidney Disease Education Program
National Kidney Foundation