The California Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative (2020) has obtained enough signatures to appear on the state’s ballot as an initiated state statute. To appear on the state’s ballot, a total of 623,212 valid petition signatures (five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2018 general election) was required. On 15 June 2020, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced eligibility of the initiative on the 3 November 2020 general election ballot.
The ballot initiative would require dialysis clinics to:
- Have at least one doctor on the clinic’s premises while patients are being treated; in the event of a doctor shortage, clinics may be exempted by the Department of Public Health if at least one nurse practitioner or physician assistant is on the premises
- Report dialysis-related infection data to the Department of Health and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
- Obtain consent from the Department of Health before closing or reducing services at a dialysis clinic
- Prohibit dialysis clinics from discriminating against patients based on source of payment
Out-patient hemodialysis is one of the most — if not the most — invasive procedures that takes place outside of a hospital. It’s only reasonable to require at least one doctor be present.
After having barely survived two bouts with dialysis-related sepsis, it’s absolutely necessary that infection data be reported to appropriate oversight bodies. Because dialysis patients will die without timely treatment, it’s similarly necessary that providers be required to obtain consent from the Department of Health before closing facilities or reducing services. Finally, it’s shameful, but necessary, that dialysis service providers be prohibited from discriminating against patients based on who is paying for treatment.
As usual, the dominant corporate providers of dialysis services — DaVita and Fresenius — oppose the measure, as does the California Medical Association. It’s puzzling why the American Legion and the NAACP would oppose the measure.
The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW West) is the sponsor of the initiative.
Disclosure: I’ve been a DaVita in-center hemodialysis patient since Groundhog Day 2000. Prior to 1 June 2013, I carried private health insurance. On 1 June 2013, I transitioned to traditional Medicare with a private health insurance supplement and prescription drug coverage through BlueCross BlueShield Minnesota. I’m also a #FixDialysis signatory.
