Renal Physicians Association

Health Care Payment - RPA addresses Medicare, Medicaid, and private sector health care financing issues. RPA leaders meet with representatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Carrier Medical Directors to address concerns about discrepancies in carrier policies, documentation requirements, and apparent trends in payment denials. RPA monitors the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC), as well as congressional health care financing activities, and serves as a resource on kidney-related issues. As an active participant on the American Medical Association's Relative Value Update Committee (RUC), Practice Expense Advisory Committee (PEAC), and CPT Editorial Panel, RPA works to assure that work values for nephrology services are appropriately determined and that CPT codes accurately reflect nephrology clinical practice. Finally, RPA tracts problems related to reimbursement for nephrology services and payment denials experienced by members to determine trends and identify areas where RPA needs to take action.

Quality Improvement - RPA is committed to ensuring quality care for patients with kidney disease. The Association works closely with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Forum of ESRD Networks, and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) to develop policies and procedures that result in an effective quality assessment and improvement program. RPA contributes to the development of clinical practice guidelines and physician performance measures through participation in PQM. The Association coordinates these efforts with other organized medical groups as well as AHRQ and CMS. Patient safety is an important part of the RPA physician-patient equation. Through RPA's efforts in quality and accountability, patient safety has been highlighted as an important program initiative.