The Economics Of End
Treatment options
There are tow treatment options for patient who can not receive kidney transplants these are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.haemodyalysis is performed in dialysis outpatient centers, patients under this therapy have to make visits to the centre thrice a week lasting between 31/2 and 41/2 hours. This is a difficult treatment for patients who have other medical complications associated with the patient due to the time commitments, patients are often forced to drop out of work as they are not in a position to maintain their employment full time. This is the most chosen treatment modality by nephrologists. Some of the patients receive this treatment in their homes utilizing machines that have been built by NxStage and are trained thoroughly in there treatment.
There is logic reasoning behind this treatment but despite this fact many people are not getting home hemodialysis .a positive aspect of hemodyalsyis is the social interaction that exists between patients and staff of the centre. There is bonding between patients in the centre and go ahead to exchange information on their illness as well as the ongoing progress of the treatment. Patients tend to prefer receiving their treatment from the centers as opposed to their homes due to the fact that they can develop stress or even the development of complications outside a medical facility were one can get immediate and qualified attention.
The second treatment is peritoneal dialysis which is different from hemodialysis.PD treatments are performed each day as opposed to hemodyalysis. Both treatments are reimbursed the same way in that the same amount which is paid for a three week treatment in hemodialysis is paid in PD seven day in a week treatment. This means that hemodialysis costs more as compared to PD daily treatments. The treatment modality for PD is very flexible hence it is advantageous compared to hemodyalysis and no thrice a week travel is required. since PD uses the peritoneal membrane there are disadvantages that can be associated with this such a disadvantage is the development of peritonitis which is an inflammation followed by an infection of peritoneal cavity which is quite painful and requires a patient to shift to hemodyalysis. At the same time the patient will be receiving treatment for their infection and most of them can not revert back to PD. reimbursement for both treatment is on the basis of basic treatment and additional payments are on drugs and tests payment structures for both treatments are both same however the difference comes in the cost of the ancillary drugs. Those who are prescribed PD are healthier as v=compared to hemodyalysis and therefore they often do not require any additional drugs so as to maintain their quality of life. PD patients also have a greater kidney function which requires less treatment for disorders like anemia.
Ethical implication
Many providers in the market today are out to make profits.PD is seen to be the lowest cost from the perspective of payers but in the real sense it is very profitable to the providers. This is an unethical practice since the providers are portraying it as a cheaper option while in the real sense they are making numerous gains. There are also ethical issues that are associated with production of artificial kidneys or dialyzers. Even though hemodyalysis is considered as a safe option there is the ethical issue of dialyzers that is associated to the treatment.
