CMS pushes for return to essential kidney treatments, transplants

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced updated guidance urging for the resumption of kidney procedures.
CMS’ guidance is designed to ensure medical providers are able to return to offer essential surgical, life-sustaining procedures while reinforcing infection control precautions at dialysis facilities in COVID-19 hotspots.
The guidance includes a checklist of actions for the facilities to take when there is a surge or resurgence of the virus in the surrounding community, as well as the suggestion that the providers resume the planned surgical procedures whenever possible.
CMS previously released guidance suggesting that providers defer nonessential planned procedures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but Monday’s update to the guidance clarified that essential procedures, such as vascular access and organ transplants, are critical, life-sustaining treatments.
The service acknowledged that some instances may call for the disallowing of the procedures due to local conditions and a limit of resources related to the public health emergency, but the facilities should utilize the focused infection control tool to perform self-assessments and ensure control plans and protections are in place.
Original Article: (https://www.massdevice.com/cms-pushes-for-return-to-essential-kidney-treatments-transplants/)