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. 2002 Summer;23(4):37–50.

Table 2. Twelve Dialysis Facility-Specific Measures Released by CMS to the Public on Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC).

Facility Measure Released Source Description or Comment
1. Name and address 1/19/2001 ESRD Network SIMS Address for the physical location of the facility.
2. Telephone number 1/19/2001 SIMS
3. Initial Medicare Certification Date 1/19/2001 CMS's OSCAR This date is the date associated with the facility's current Medicare provider number.
4. Shifts starting or continuing after 5 p.m. 1/19/2001 ESRD Networks Annual Reports. SIMS for the 4/2001 DFC release. This item was renamed “shifts starting at 5 p.m. or later” for the 4/2001 DFC release.
5. Percent of the patients who received adequate HD (defined as a URR ≥ 65 percent) 1/19/2001 CMS's REBUS/PMMIS; includes information from Medicare claims data. For the 01/19/2001 DFC release measures were calculated using the 1998 Medicare claims. For the 7/2001 release 1999 Medicare claims were used. The measures are prepared by the University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (UMKECC).
6. Percent of the patients on Epoetin whose anemia was adequately managed (defined as hematocrit ≥ 33 percent). 1/19/2001 REBUS/PMMIS For the 01/19/2001 DFC release measures were calculated using 1998 Medicare claims. For the 7/2001 release 1999 billing data were used. The rates are prepared by UMKECC.
7. Patient survival categories: reported as expected, better than expected1, or worse than expected1 1/19/2001 REBUS/PMMIS For the 01/19/2001 DFC release, the survival categories were a 3-year average (1996-1998). For the 7/2001 release the survival categories were a 3-year average (1997-1999). The rates are prepared by UMKECC.
8. Ownership type 4/2001 SIMS Reported as profit or non-profit
9. Owned by a chain organization 4/2001 SIMS Reported as yes or no
10. Chain affiliation 4/2001 SIMS Reported as the name of the national or local corporation/chain.
11. Number of dialysis stations 4/2001 SIMS Reported as the total number of stations. Self-reported by the dialysis facility.
12. Modalities offered 4/2001 SIMS Reported as HD, home HD training, and peritoneal dialysis. Self reported by the dialysis facility.
1

At least 20 percent better or worse than the “as expected” survival group.

NOTES: CMS is Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. ESRD is end stage renal disease. SIMS is Standard Information Management System. OSCAR is Online Survey Certification and Reporting System. REBUS is Renal Beneficiary and Utilization System. DFC is dialysis facility compare. HD is hemodialysis. URR is urea reduction ratio. PMMIS is Program Medical Management Information System.