MedPAC Eyes Axing ESRD Drug Add-On Pay As Trump Touts Kidney Care

Some kidney care stakeholders say the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission seems to be at odds with the administration over the need for innovation in treatments for end stage renal disease patients after commissioners at their January meeting leaned toward eliminating the transitional drug add-on payment adjustment to the ESRD pay bundle. But the payment advisors raised concerns the add-on pay could lead drug makers to raise prices for new ESRD treatments that aren’t any better than existing ones. MedPAC commissioners...