And federal reimbursement for treatment has barely increased in almost 20 years. Members of the for-profit dialysis industry deny sacrificing quality to cut costs and contend that competition for patients will result in better care. The concerns are not new. In 1999, the state Department of Health reviewed the dialysis process and concluded that technician training needed to be regulated to protect the public. Currently, technicians receive between six to eight weeks of training by the facilities that employ them.
Instruction varies among clinics.
House Bill 1309 would create a task force to develop a set of basic skills and minimum standards for mandatory technician training programs. The bill could come to a vote in the House as early as tomorrow. Edwards said it has support from both parties and a good chance of passage. There are more than 3,300 dialysis patients in the state. If dialysis is done right, the process is fairly painless.