Your Medicare Coverage
Is your test, item, or service covered?
Kidney disease education
How often is it covered?
Medicare covers up to 6 sessions of kidney disease education to help you delay dialysis and prevent kidney disease complications when the service is given by a doctor, certain qualified non-doctor providers, or a rural provider. Your doctor must refer you for the service.
Five topics you will learn about:
- How to manage health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and anemia
- How your kidneys work
- What you should and shouldn’t eat
- How your medications work
- Your treatment options if your kidneys get worse:
- Hemodialysis
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Access options for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
- Kidney transplant
Other topics you can also ask about:
- How you feel
- How to maintain your kidney function
- Exercise
- What your test results mean
- Your family and social life
- Work and finances
- How kidney disease affects your mental health
- Your right to refuse treatment
Who's eligible?
People with Medicare who have Stage IV chronic kidney disease that will require dialysis or a kidney transplant are covered. The doctor who manages your kidney disease must write a referral for these services.
Your costs in Original Medicare
You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount per session if you get the service from a doctor or other qualified health care provider.
Related resources
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