Is a patient who hires a home dialysis helper still considered a home (or self-care) dialysis patient?
Yes. Whether the patient or a partner, paid or unpaid, takes primary responsibility for treatment, the treatment itself is considered home (or self-care) dialysis. If a patient resides in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) and gets dialysis there, the SNF can be considered the patient’s home for home dialysis purposes. Dialysis charges are paid in addition to the consolidated payment that SNFs receive. As usual, dialysis clinics bill Medicare for Method I patients and suppliers bill Medicare for Method II patients.
