Medicare program; End Stage Renal Disease Program; redesignation of networks and reorganization of network organizations--HCFA. Final rule.
This final rule revises the requirements in current regulations pertaining to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) networks and organizations and establishes provisions for new, more efficient network organizations. This rule removes the criteria that define existing networks, removes the requirement that HCFA change designations of ESRD networks through rulemaking, and removes the list of currently-designated networks that now appears in regulations. It is intended that these amendments will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the ESRD program by instituting a faster process for changing network designations and organizations as program needs arise. These amendments also permit the reduction of the number of existing networks to as few as 14, which is consistent with section 9214 of Pub. L. 99-272, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA).
D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006278:Medicare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States