Increasing access to medicare kidney disease education benefit

(a) In general Section 1861(ggg) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ggg)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or stage V after stage IV; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting or of a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)) assisting in the treatment of the individual’s kidney condition after kidney condition; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking subparagraph (B); and (B) in subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking (A) after (2); (ii) by striking and at the end of clause (i); (iii) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting; and; (iv) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and (v) by adding at the end the following: (C) a renal dialysis facility subject to the requirements of section 1881(b)(1) with personnel who— (i) provide the services described in paragraph (1); and (ii) is a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as defined in subsection (aa)(5)).. (b) Payment to renal dialysis facilities Section 1881(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (15) For purposes of paragraph (14), the single payment for renal dialysis services under such paragraph shall not take into account the amount of payment for kidney disease education services (as defined in section 1861(ggg)). Instead, payment for such services shall be made to the renal dialysis facility on an assignment-related basis under section 1848.. (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to kidney disease education services furnished on or after January 1, 2026.