Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement after the Dialysis Patient Access to Integrated-care, Empowerment, Nephrologists, and Treatment (PATIENTS) Act (H.R. 5506), legislation she co-sponsored, was introduced in the House. This bill would establish an ESRD Integrated Care Demonstration Program within Medicare to assist dialysis patients in receiving high-quality, integrated and coordinated care. Since these patients receive four-hour treatments at least three times a week, this program would utilize the dialysis facility as the main point of care for ESRD patients.

“Being on dialysis is difficult enough,” said McMorris Rodgers. “Let’s make the situation easier for patients and their families by centralizing where these men and women can receive their care. Instead of hopping from clinic to dialysis center to a doctor’s office, they will have more flexibility and be able to access everything – and everyone – they need in one location.”