Renal Dialysis Facility ESA Policies
The OIG has issued a report entitled “Renal Dialysis Facilities’ Dosage Protocols for Administering Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents.” The report, which was requested by members of Congress, found that 93% of Medicare-certified dialysis facilities had established protocols in place for administering erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA). While only 56% of these protocols explicitly state a target hemoglobin range, 94% of those that did were consistent with the boxed warning on FDA-approved labeling and the Medicare benefit policy for ESAs. The OIG pointed out that since almost half of the dialysis facilities either did not have protocols or did not specify a target hemoglobin range in their protocols, the OIG cannot determine whether these facilities’ policies target the hemoglobin range consistent with FDA labeling.
