Bill Overview
Title: Kidney Health Connect Act
Description: This bill permanently allows Medicare beneficiaries to receive telehealth services at renal dialysis facilities.
Sponsors: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals requiring telehealth services for renal dialysis, including Medicare beneficiaries worldwide.
Estimated Size: 669600
- The bill targets individuals who are Medicare beneficiaries.
- It specifically focuses on beneficiaries who require renal dialysis.
- This population generally includes individuals with kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
- The global impact extends to countries with similar telehealth infrastructures and populations requiring dialysis.
Reasoning
- The policy is intended to improve access to healthcare services via telehealth for individuals under Medicare requiring renal dialysis.
- Budget constraints imply that not every individual can be serviced immediately, but the expansion of telehealth infrastructure suggests increased long-term efficiency and access.
- Given the high demand within the target population (669,600 potential beneficiaries in the U.S.), it is crucial to consider individuals with varying levels of access to technology and healthcare currently, as well as geographical disparities.
- The policy's impact will likely vary over time, with more immediate benefits for those already poised to utilize telehealth resources.
- The interviews cover a range of demographics to capture differences in how people perceive and might be affected by the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (New York City, NY)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have to travel frequently to the dialysis center, which is tiring and costly.
- Telehealth would allow me to get remote consultations, which is so convenient.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired farmer (Rural Oklahoma)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m not sure how this telehealth thing would work here in the countryside.
- My son says it could help me avoid some trips to the clinic though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m not on Medicare yet, but I'm hoping to benefit from more telehealth options.
- It’s great that technology is finally catching up with medical needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired scientific researcher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 80 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth is the future, and I'm glad we are moving towards it.
- This policy supports more efficient care handling—very much needed.
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 |
Freelancer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The telehealth provision is crucial for managing my health on busy work days.
- Having flexibility would make a big difference to my well-being.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My private insurance already offers telehealth, but it’s nice to have more choices through Medicare.
- It's a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired nurse (Austin, TX)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to telehealth can greatly improve care for seniors.
- I’ve seen first-hand how beneficial remote healthcare can be.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telehealth could simplify a lot of my health checkups.
- Integration with veteran services would be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired school principal (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 84 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s a bit confusing, but if it helps reduce hospital visits, I’m for it.
- I would need support to use telehealth services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Part-time retail worker (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 59 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’d feel more in control with closer monitoring through telehealth.
- It’s hard to find the time and money to travel to appointments all the time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $26000000 (Low: $21000000, High: $31000000)
Year 3: $27000000 (Low: $22000000, High: $32000000)
Year 5: $29000000 (Low: $24000000, High: $34000000)
Year 10: $32000000 (Low: $27000000, High: $37000000)
Year 100: $48000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $52000000)
Key Considerations
- The infrastructure for telehealth must comprehensively cover urban and rural areas to ensure equitable access.
- There will be regulatory and compliance challenges as telehealth crosses state lines and potentially impacts privacy laws.
- Training for healthcare providers and patients on telehealth technologies will be critical.
- Potential for telehealth to reduce infection risks by limiting physical contact, especially pertinent during pandemics.