Implementing Patient Education in the CKD Clinic

The passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) encouraged education for Stage 4 CKD patients by reimbursing qualified providers for formal instruction. This marked the first time Medicare reimbursed for kidney disease education. Although the law lays out specific requirements, it leaves much of the structure and content of the instruction up to the providers. The CKD clinic staffed by advanced practitioners (physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and/or clinical nurse specialists) provides a natural fit for patient education. Educated patients choose home modalities more frequently; more often start dialysis with a permanent vascular access; and generally score higher on tests measuring mood, mobility, and anxiety. However, sufficient research into the effects of CKD patient education is lacking.