Analysis: Health Outcomes Remain Unchanged Under New Dialysis Payment System.

Modern Healthcare  (8/16, Zigmond, Subscription Publication) reports, "A yearlong analysis  of a new payment system for outpatient maintenance dialysis from the CMS showed changes in use patterns for certain services and procedures but no real changes in beneficiary health status in 2011." After examining "information about morbidity and mortality, anemia management, bone and mineral metabolism, access infection and fluid management before and after implementation of the new system," researchers found "no increase in adverse health conditions related to bone and mineral management since the end-stage renal disease prospective payment system was implemented." There was a slight trend in the increase in kidney stones, however, but the "trend predated the ESRD PPS."