Implications for health care policy. A social and demographic profile of hemodialysis patients in the United States
R. W. Evans, C. R. Blagg and F. A. Bryan Jr
Before 1973, selection of patients with end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) for
treatment was necessary because of inadequate medical and financial
resources. Patients were selected based partly on social worth rather than
medical suitability. In 1973 ESRD patients became eligible for Medicare
benefits, eliminating the financial barrier to treatment. Using data from
two national surveys of hemodialysis patients in 1967 and 1978, two social
and demographic profiles of patients illustrate the effect of extension of
Medicare benefits on composition of the dialysis patient population. These
data indicate that problems of patient selection have been resolved, and
ESRD patients now have equal access to medical care. Nevertheless, there is
growing pressure for cost efficiency for the ESRD program in the tightening
economic climate. This may lead again to some form of restriction for
future access to dialysis therapy.
