| [ Summary ] |
Traditionally, medical fees for hemodialysis have been adjusted for differences in treatment time. However, fees have been fixed, regardless of treatment time, since April 2002 per decisions by the Ministry of Welfare and Labor. The number of patients who are suffering from diabetic nephropathy and the number of aged is increasing. Most do not need 4 hour treatments because their serum level of creatinine and BUN levels are low. Therefore, they are likely to receive 3 hour hemodialysis sessions. The Japanese conference on hemodialysis patients sent out a questionnaire to its members which clarified that the time of hemodialysis treatment sessions had been shortened after changes in the medical fee system. This trend was also confirmed by the statistical study made by the Japanese Society of Dialysis Treatment. Dialysis time itself is a major contributing factor affecting hemodialysis patients survival. Therefore, the author hopes that hemodialysis times will be determined individually, to maintain adequate hemodiaysis, and in order to keep our patients' survival rates among the best in the world. |