Dialysis is a treatment that cleans your blood when your kidneys do not work. It gets rid of harmful wastes, and extra salt and fluids that build up in your body. It also helps control blood pressure and helps your body keep the right amount of fluids. Dialysis treatments help you feel better and live longer, but they are not a cure for permanent kidney failure.

• Hemodialysis uses a special filter (called a dialyzer) to clean your blood. The filter connects to a machine. During treatment, your blood flows through tubes into the filter to clean out wastes and extra fluids. Then the newly cleaned blood flows through another set of tubes and back into your body.
• Peritoneal dialysis uses a special solution (called dialysate) that flows through a tube into your abdomen. After a few hours, the dialysate removes wastes from your blood and can be drained from your abdomen. After draining the used dialysate, your abdomen is filled with fresh dialysate and the cleaning process begins again.

Dialysis can be done at home or in a medical facility. For Medicare to pay for your treatments, the facility must be approved to provide dialysis (even if they already provide other Medicare-covered health care services). You should find out are whether or not the dialysis center can meet the needs of you or your loved one, if it is in your geographic area, and lastly, if they have space available.

At the dialysis center, a nurse or a trained technician may give you the treatment. At home, you can treat yourself with the help of a family member or friend. If you decide to do home dialysis, you and your helper should receive special training.

In most cases, the center that your kidney doctor referred you to is where you will get dialysis treatments. However, you have the right to choose to get your treatments from another center at any time. Keep in mind, this could mean changing doctors.

You can use the “Search for Care” application on georgiahealthinfo.gov to find a dialysis center in your area or you can call your local End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network. The Southeastern Kidney Council Inc. holds the contract for ESRD Network 6. Network 6 is one of 18 ESRD Networks contracted by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide quality oversight to ESRD dialysis and transplant facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. This oversight includes data registry for all dialysis and transplant consumers in all three states. The Council also can assist in the evaluation and resolution of patient complaints and grievances. For more information on ESRD Network 6, call (919) 855-0882 or e-mail info@nw6.esrd.org.

Medicare helps pay for kidney dialysis and kidney transplant services in the original Medicare plan, also known as Fee-For-Service. If you are in a Medicare Managed Care Plan, Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plan, or Medicare Preferred Provider Organization Plan, your plan must give you at least the same coverage that the Original Medicare Plan gives. However, it may have different rules, and you may be able to get extra benefits. Read your plan materials or call (800) MEDICARE for more information. You can also visit the medicare.gov Web site.

Before you make your final decision about a dialysis center, visit the facilities that you are interested in and talk with the staff and patients. The georgiahealthinfo.gov Web site can help you search for a dialysis center in your geographic area. This site will also give you a list of the services that are provided at each of the centers, center address and phone numbers, the number of dialysis stations and total number of dialysis patients.

Here are some booklets that can help you understand kidney disease, dialysis, and Medicare coverage. Click on the name of the publication below to view, download or print a copy, or call (800) MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to ask for a free copy.

As a dialysis patient, you have certain rights and protection under law. When you go to a treatment center, ask for a copy of your rights and responsibilities. This will help you know what to expect from your health care team and what they can expect from you. The following is a list of patient rights developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Your dialysis center will probably have a similar list.

Dialysis patients have the right to:

• Be treated with respect
• Privacy
• Meet with your whole health care team to plan your treatment
• See the dietitian for help with food planning and the social worker for counseling
• Be told about your health in a way that you can understand
• Be told about your treatment and to choose your options
• Be told about any tests ordered, and the results
• Be told about the services offered at the center
• Be told about the process of dialysis and dialyzer re-use
• Be told about any expenses that you have to pay for if they are not covered by insurance or Medicare
• Be told about any financial help available
• Accept or refuse any treatment or medicine your doctor orders for you
• Be told about the rules at the treatment center (for example, rules for visitors, eating, personal conduct, etc.)
• Choose if you want to be part of any research studies