End Stage Renal Disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

End Stage Renal Disease - Essay Example A number of healthcare programs have come to the aid of ESRD patients in the United States, among them Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance (Sullivan 47). Through these programs, it is evident that healthcare provision is an expensive undertaking. As healthcare costs in this line exacerbates, the different forms of ESRD treatment do not seem to have a significant difference in terms of costs. Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis exhibit significant differences in the mode of treatment employed, but the costs incurred are roughly the same. This implies that the choice on the mode of treatment to use on patients remains a critical decision that nephrologists have to make. Another critical aspect to capture in addressing ESRD concerns is reimbursement. Despite the relative treatment differences in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (CAPD and CCPG), the reimbursement structure is the same (Sullivan 49). The government, through its various healthcare programs, and insurance companies continue to direct funds and resources to the coverage of qualifying patients and subscribers respectively. The reimbursement structuring has remained relatively the same, characterized by an ever rising trend in healthcare costs. Both nephrologists and ESRD patients have had substantial decisions to make regarding the reimbursement structure and the various treatment options available. There are a number of economic concerns that revolve around ESRD patients and their daily lives. To start with, these patients can hardly maintain permanent employment, meaning that their income earning continuity is relatively curtailed. This translates to a financial challenge to the patient and his/her dependents if any. Secondly, government healthcare programs and insurance companies do not necessarily provide 100% coverage. This means that the patients have additional costs to meet, especially in terms of acquiring ancillary drugs. Resulting to dialysis or kidney