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March 1, 2022

March is National Kidney Month and World Kidney Day

  • Kidney disease is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States (Make the Diabetes and Kidney Disease Connection - CDC, 2021).
  • It is estimated that around 37 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and out of those people, around 90% do not even know that they have it (Celebrate World Kidney Day, Learn About Your Kidney Health, 2021).
  • In the United States, it is projected that over one in every seven adults has chronic kidney disease (Chronic Kidney Disease Basics - CDC, 2020) and one in every three adults is at risk for developing it (Celebrate World Kidney Day, Learn About Your Kidney Health, 2021).
  • Many people are unaware that they have kidney disease until the disease begins to advance (Make the Diabetes and Kidney Disease Connection - CDC, 2021).
  • Having a diagnosis of type 1 or 2 diabetes also puts a patient at an increased risk for kidney disease. Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease, followed by hypertension.
  • Around one in every three adults with diabetes has chronic kidney disease (Make the Diabetes and Kidney Disease Connection - CDC, 2021).
  • African Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Pacific Islanders are at an increased risk of developing kidney disease.

The month of March is National Kidney Month. World Kidney Day is held the second Thursday in March. These two events are focused on heightening community awareness about kidney disease through education on prevention, detection, and treatment.

The role of the kidneys is to remove waste products, toxins, and excess fluid from the body as well as maintain fluid balance and acid-base balance within the body.

  • When a patient develops kidney disease, his/her kidneys can no longer adequately filter the blood.
  • This causes excess fluids and waste products to build up within the body and additional medical conditions (such as cardiovascular issues) to result.
  • If kidney disease is left untreated and continues to progress, kidney failure can ultimately ensue.
  • Patients with kidney failure (also called end stage renal failure or ESRD) require dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

There are several steps you can take to assist your patients to manage kidney disease.

  • Encourage your patients to schedule annual wellness visits and health screenings. Chronic kidney disease can be slow to develop and often does not show symptoms in the early stages, so it is important to screen patients early, especially if your patients are at high risk for developing kidney disease (such as your patients with diabetes and hypertension).
  • Monitor your patients’ blood pressure levels. Manage and treat accordingly. Educate your patients about the relationship between elevated blood pressure and kidney disease.
  • Monitor your patients’ blood glucose levels. Manage and treat accordingly. Educate your patients about the relationship between elevated blood glucose levels and kidney disease.
  • Educate your patients on the importance of healthy habits such as exercising, eating a well-balanced diet, lowering stress levels, controlling weight (or losing weight if needed), getting enough sleep, and quitting smoking
  • Discuss Chronic Care Management services with your patients and if they qualify, provide resources to them on how to enroll.
  • Encourage your patients to get their flu shot annually.
  • Medicare covers the administration of the hepatitis B series for certain patients. Discuss this Medicare covered benefit with your patients if they qualify.
  • Medicare covers Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for certain patients. Discuss this Medicare covered benefit with your patients that may qualify for this service.

Chronic Care Management services are a Part B benefit offered to patients with two or more chronic medical conditions that meet patient eligibility requirements. CCM allows the health care provider to be paid separately while providing care to these beneficiaries.

A chronic medical condition can be defined as:

  • Medical condition that lasts 12 months or longer
  • Requires ongoing treatment by a physician or other similar health care provider
  • Places the affected individual at risk for death, recurring flare-ups, and/or decline in ability to function
  • Examples- arthritis, asthma, cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease

Chronic Care Management services are proactive approaches to care for the patient with multiple chronic medical conditions. CCM services allow the health care provider and the patient/caregivers to work together in the management of the patient’s chronic medical conditions.

To learn more about Medicare-covered services, visit CMS Preventive ServicesExternal Website

For More Information on Preventive Services

For more information on Chronic Care Management Services

For More information on National Kidney Month, World Kidney Day, Kidney Health, and Kidney Disease

References

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