Bill Overview
Title: Kidney Health Connect Act of 2022
Description: This bill permanently allows Medicare beneficiaries to receive telehealth services at renal dialysis facilities.
Sponsors: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) receiving dialysis
Estimated Size: 500000
- Kidney disease affects millions globally, with varying stages of severity.
- Many patients with kidney disease undergo dialysis, a treatment for kidney failure.
- Telehealth services provide healthcare via digital communication, which can benefit remote or immobile patients.
- Medicare is a U.S. federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 or older, but also for younger people with disabilities or certain conditions like End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
- Providing telehealth services in dialysis facilities can enhance access to healthcare professionals for dialysis patients.
- Globally, the estimated number of people treated for ESRD is several million.
Reasoning
- The target population is primarily Medicare beneficiaries with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) who receive dialysis, making them eligible for enhanced telehealth services at dialysis facilities.
- A significant portion of this population is aging or has mobility constraints, making the convenience of telehealth particularly beneficial.
- While the policy has a fixed budget, it is distributed over ten years, suggesting incremental enhancements per annum without widespread, immediate impact.
- Some individuals in the population might already benefit from similar initiatives or have well-established alternatives, affecting the policy's impact.
Simulated Interviews
Retired engineer (New York, NY)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth would make it easier for me to consult with my nephrologist without the need to spend extra time at appointments outside dialysis.
- Having quick consultations about medication adjustments would be helpful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Part-time teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle to see my specialist regularly due to distance, so telehealth services would reduce my travel time and help me maintain my part-time job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired postal worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've never used a computer or smartphone for medical services, and I'm not sure I'll start now, but it seems like a useful option for others.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Freelancer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Among few in my rural area needing dialysis who now will be able to have consultations from these facilities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Part-time consultant (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I might use telehealth occasionally when scheduling conflicts arise, but it's not a huge change for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Stay-at-home parent (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth services would ease the burden of coordinating family responsibilities with healthcare needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired nurse (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 75 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill supports the kind of medical convenience I rely on and promotes efficiency in my ongoing treatment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Musician (Austin, TX)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth will enable me to manage my health without interrupting my musical pursuits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired teacher (Denver, CO)
Age: 80 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A few remote consultations would reduce my physical strain and provide better quality of life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth improvements support my proactive health management style, fitting seamlessly with my tech-savvy lifestyle.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $52500000 (Low: $36750000, High: $73500000)
Year 3: $55125000 (Low: $38587500, High: $77175000)
Year 5: $60563750 (Low: $42486375, High: $84741250)
Year 10: $76730341 (Low: $53711239, High: $99558144)
Year 100: $316452978 (Low: $221517084, High: $411388872)
Key Considerations
- While initial costs will arise from establishing telehealth capabilities, long-term benefits could offset these through better managed and more efficient ESRD care.
- Given the large number of dialysis patients under Medicare, policy implementation could set a precedent for further telehealth integration across chronic disease management.
- Potential savings are difficult to quantify initially but may manifest as reduced healthcare complications and hospital visits over time.