What PD supplies are covered by Medicare?
Under either Method I or Method II Medicare covers PD supplies such as: • A PD machine, if you use one • Manual blood pressure cuff and stethoscope • IV stand • Dialysate heater • Dialysate solution • Tubing • Ancillary supplies such as gloves, syringes, tape • A start-up kit that includes such things as a scale, thermometer, scissors, clamps, etc., if it’s charged as part of your dialysis equipment The dialysis clinic must give you any antibiotic your doctor prescribes for peritonitis, but Medicare will not pay for it because they believe the rate they pay clinics is enough to cover antibiotics. Medicare does pay extra for EPO (Epogen® or Aranesp®). Medicare will pay for EPO shots if you have anemia, and you or your helper have been trained to give it, and you know your diet and recognize high and low blood pressure. Your clinic will ask you to track any EPO you give yourself and to bring your records with you. Sometimes you may need to come into the dialysis clinic to get IV Iron or
