Kidney Patients Join Industry In Opposing CMS' Dialysis Star Rating System

Kidney patients have joined the fight against the Medicare star-rating program for dialysis facilities, and they're making the same arguments as industry. Patient advocates say that the bell curve nature of the program will confuse patients, especially those in poor areas; the program is inconsistent with the existing dialysis Quality Incentive Program; and CMS should have sought feedback from patients and providers before forcing the program on them. The chain dialysis company DaVita recently went public with complaints about Medicare's...