CMS proposes 1.6% payment increase for dialysis operators in 2024

On June 26, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, issued a proposed rule that proposes to update payment rates and policies and includes requests for information under the end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, Prospective Payment System, or PPS, for renal dialysis services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2024. This rule also proposes an update to the Acute Kidney Injury, or AKI, dialysis payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities for calendar year 2024. In addition, the rule proposes to update requirements for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program, or QIP. For calendar year 2024, CMS is proposing to increase the ESRD PPS base rate to $269.99, increasing total payments to ESRD facilities by approximately 1.6%. The CY 2024 ESRD PPS proposed rule also includes several proposals and requests for information related to ESRD PPS payment policies, the CMS stated. DaVita (DVA) and Fresenius Medical (FMS), which provide dialysis and related services, are down 5% and 4%, respectively, in Tuesday pre-market trading following the CMS notice.