Reversing the decline in peritoneal dialysis prevalence: The 2023 peritoneal dialysis reimbursement initiative in Taiwan

Abstract

Background

Despite the exceptional quality of peritoneal dialysis (PD) care in Taiwan and the country's globally high PD patient survival rates, PD utilization has declined. This trend is likely due to limited patient awareness and disparities in financial incentives between hemodialysis (HD) and PD. To address this issue, a new initiative has been launched to rebalance these incentives and promote PD adoption, with the goal of reversing the declining trend.

Methods

Enforcing a policy to encourage PD therapy among specific patient populations is crucial, given its benefits for proactive patients and fewer hospital visits. To address these trends, Taiwan's National Health Insurance Administration launched a reimbursement initiative in July 2023, guided by the expertise of the Peritoneal Dialysis Working Committee of the Taiwan Society of Nephrology. This initiative encourages the setup of new PD units, education for new staff, and an integrative care approach provided by medical centers and their collaborative community clinics. Additionally, this initiative encourages comprehensive SDM on KRT modality choice and reimburses telemedicine video consultations.

Results

In this reimbursement initiative, our primary focus is on improving PD quality rather than solely increasing the quantity of new PD patients. As of the end of 2023, the short-term outcomes of this initiative are promising, including the reopening of six previously closed PD units, the establishment of 68 new units, and an increase in the crude PD prevalence rates from 7.5% to 7.9% (p = 0.006). Since the implementation began, the adherence rate at medical centers, as measured by a scoring system evaluating the high standard of PD care quality, has reached 100%, while regional hospitals have reached nearly 90%.

Conclusions

The short-term outcomes of this initiative are promising, and it is still ongoing, with plans to continue for at least three years. We look forward to sharing the long-term outcomes and insights gained from this initiative in the near future. While healthcare systems differ across countries, Taiwan's model may offer valuable insights for other nations by showing how such initiatives can mobilize healthcare teams, empower patients, and ultimately support long-term expansion of PD.