Advances in chronic kidney disease
-
Adv Chronic Kidney Dis · Jan 2017
ReviewMedicare Telehealth Services and Nephrology: Policies for Eligibility and Payment.
The criteria for Medicare payment of telehealth nephrology services, and all other Medicare telehealth services, are set forth in section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act. There are just over 80 professional physician or practitioner services that may be furnished via telehealth and paid under Medicare Part B, when an interactive audio and video telecommunication system that permits real-time communication between a beneficiary at the originating site and the physician or practitioner at the distant site substitutes for an in-person encounter. ⋯ In recent years, many mobile health devices and other web-based tools have been developed in support of monitoring, observation, and collaboration for people living with chronic disease. This article reviews the statutory and program guidance that governs Medicare telehealth services, defines payment policy terms (e.g., originating site and distant site), and explains payment policies when telehealth services are furnished.
-
Adv Chronic Kidney Dis · May 2016
ReviewImmediate Consequences of Acute Kidney Injury: The Impact of Traditional and Nontraditional Complications on Mortality in Acute Kidney Injury.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) that requires renal replacement therapy is associated with a mortality rate that exceeds 50% in the intensive care unit, which is greater than other serious illnesses such as acute lung injury and myocardial infarction. Much information is now available regarding the complications of AKI that contribute to mortality and may be usefully categorized as "traditional" and "nontraditional". ⋯ In this review, we discuss both traditional and nontraditional complications of AKI with a focus on factors that contribute to mortality, considering both pathophysiology and potential remedies. Because AKI is the most common inpatient consult to nephrologists, it is essential to be aware of the complications of AKI that contribute to mortality to devise appropriate treatment strategies to prevent and manage AKI complications with the ultimate goal of reducing the unacceptably high mortality rate of AKI.