The cost of emergency dialysis is estimated to be 8-times that of in-center dialysis. A new study reveals that a transitional dialysis program piloted in Travis County (Austin, TX) resulted in a significant decrease in emergency department visits and hospital admissions for emergency dialysis by providing a pathway for outpatient dialysis in uninsured patients. Thefindings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2025 November 5– 9.
Central Health, a taxpayer-funded organization that provides health and wellnessservices for uninsured patients in Travis County, piloted the transitional dialysis program in November 2022. The goal was to provide in-center/outpatient dialysisfor Travis County residents who lacked insurance coverage.
When investigators reviewed data from November 2022 to December 2024 on the 101 patients who enrolled in the program, they observed that there was asignificant decline in the number of days patients utilized emergency dialysis in the hospital prior to finding an outpatient facility. Additionally, within 1 year of starting dialysis, most patients were able to obtain permanent dialysis access with either an arteriovenous fistula or a peritoneal dialysis catheter. Once accepted into the program, Central Health provided an insurance plan to cover outpatient dialysis and transplantation. To date, 18 patients have been listed for kidney transplantation, and 2 have received living donor transplants.
"The program has successfully facilitated dialysis access placement and transplant evaluation," said corresponding author Michelle Lubetzky, MD, of The University of Texas, Austin. "Since Texas has no safety-net plan for patients who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, the program has the potential to providea cost-effective solution and decrease in utilization of health care resources for those without medical coverage who develop kidney failure. It can be a model for other states and cities that alsolack safety net plans."
Study: "Benefits of a Dedicated Dialysis Program for Uninsured Patients withESKD in Texas"
Join ASN and approximately 12,000 other kidney professionals from across the globe at Kidney Week 2025 in Houston, TX. The world's premier nephrology meeting, Kidney Week, provides participants with exciting and challenging opportunities to exchange knowledge, learn the latest scientific and medical advances, and listen to engaging andprovocative discussions with leading experts in the field. Early programs begin on November 5, followed by the Annual Meeting from November 6-9. Follow the conversation at #KidneyWk.
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