Bookmark this resource for a collection of the efforts to improve care during the COVID-19 pandemic. KNO will continue to provide you an updated breakdown of the ongoing work of the Policy and Government Affairs team.

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Visa Issues Could Sideline Some Nephrologists, Critical During COVID-19 (April 13)

• Every physician is critical in the battle against COVID-19, but some may soon find themselves sidelined—not by the illness but by the complexities of a U.S. visa process, which can leave applicants in limbo as they transition from one legal status to another.

Joint Statement from ASN and ACEP on appropriate use of emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 3)

• On April 3, ASN and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) released a joint statement on the appropriate use of emergency departments (ED) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASN and NKF Urge DHS Acting Secretary and FEMA Administrator to Release More PPE from National Stockpile (April 1)

• On March 31, American Society of Nephrology (ASN) President Anupam Agarwal, MD, FASN and National Kidney Foundation (NKF) President Holly Mattix-Kramer, MD, MPH urged Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Pete Gaynor to accelerate the production and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care professionals and vulnerable populations during this national crisis.

Sweeping CMS Waivers Give Flexibility to Nephrologists during COVID-19 Crisis (April 1)

• After much urging from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and other members of the kidney community, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a sweeping interim final rule on March 30 that provides multiple waivers the community requested to provide greater flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).

Dialysis

CARES Act to Improve Options for People on Home Dialysis (March 30)

• People who receive dialysis at home, and the nephrologists who care for them, need additional options in order to receive care, and reduce risk of infection, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the work of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and other members of the kidney community, important actions to protect these vulnerable patients have been enacted into law.

Critical clarification from CMS: PD catheter and vascular access placement is essential (March 26)

• Based on discussions with ASN and other members of the kidney community, CMS clarified its guidance on deferring nonessential surgical procedures during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Telehealth

CMS: Further guidance on telehealth, exceptions and extensions for quality measure reporting and data submission (March 23)

• As reported here earlier, CMS has expanded telehealth coverage enabling clinicians to provide telehealth services for beneficiaries residing across the entire country -- a move ASN strongly supported. Now CMS has issued two tool kits that provide far greater detail for ASN members to use including approved CPT codes.

Telehealth Waiver: Due to COVID-19, Medicare opening telehealth to non-public facing application (March 18)

• In the wake of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, the Medicare program is expanding telehealth coverage enabling clinicians to provide a wider range of health care services to their patients without those patients having to travel to a health care facility thereby reducing exposure.

Transplant

AAKP and ASN Advocate for Kidney Patients During COVID-10 Pandemic (April 2)

• To address the essential needs of this high-risk population, advocates from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) met with representatives, senators, and their respective staffs April 1, 2020 as part of the annual Kidney Health Advocacy Day (KHAD).

Research & Innovation

Opportunities and Challenges for Kidney Failure Patients in Medicare Advantage Plans for CY2021 (April 7)

• In 2021, by law, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will be open to patients with kidney failure as opposed to those who were already enrolled in MA plans before advancing to kidney failure and remain enrolled after kidney failure.

ASN Contributes to Coalition for Health Funding's letter to Congressional Leadership

• The Coalition for Health Funding shared a letter to Congressional Leadership as Congress prepares a fourth phase of an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coalition for Health Funding's letter can be accessed here.

ASN Recommends Temporary Policy Changes to Trump Administration Amid COVID-19 Pandemic (March 20)

• The approximately 500,000 American on dialysis and 222,000 Americans with kidney transplants are among the most vulnerable to the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. ASN is coordinating with the federal government to address the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the highest quality of care for those affected by kidney disease.

ASN President Anupam Agarwal, MD, FASN, meets with President Donald Trump (March 18)

• Calling attention to the unique needs of kidney patients in the COVID-19 Pandemic and advocating for specific policy changes to meet those needs was ASN President Anupam Agarwal, MD, FASN';s focus during a meeting Wednesday afternoon with President Donald Trump

New CPT Code Available for Reporting and Tracking COVID-19 (March 16)

• A new CPT ^(R) code, 87635, has been released for immediate use for novel coronavirus testing offered by hospitals, health systems, and laboratories in the United States.