New grant will help reduce utility costs for patients receiving home hemodialysis

TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2018 – A new grant is now available for people with chronic kidney disease in Ontario who manage their hemodialysis treatment in their own homes.

The Home Hemodialysis Utility Grant, created by the Ontario Renal Network in partnership with Regional Renal Programs and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, is intended to support patients’ treatment at home by helping to address the increased water and electricity costs associated with home hemodialysis (HHD).

“Conducting hemodialysis at home is an option that many people with chronic kidney disease choose as it can provide various benefits, including more convenience and a better quality of life,” said Rebecca Harvey, Vice-President, Ontario Renal Network. “Home hemodialysis can result in increases in utility costs, so this grant can help offset those costs for new and existing patients.”

Approximately five percent of dialysis patients in Ontario receive home-based hemodialysis, which is preferred by many patients to in-facility treatment as it offers a flexible treatment schedule, greater convenience and privacy, and allows them to maintain their independence while managing their condition. Prior to beginning HHD, patients take part in a training program offered through their Regional Renal Program to ensure the treatment is delivered safely and effectively.

“Hemodialysis can be a complex and costly service, which is why innovative programs like the Home Hemodialysis Utility Grant are important components of our healthcare system,” said Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “This investment offers a convenient, affordable solution to provide better access to high-quality treatment for people living with chronic kidney disease.”

The grant was created as part of the Ontario Renal Network’s strategy to address financial barriers and safely increase the number of patients who choose home-based dialysis therapies, creating more equitable access for many people who manage their hemodialysis treatment at home.

Grant payments are customized for each patient to offset each person’s individual utility costs. Each payment amount is calculated based on a number of factors, including average electricity rates across the province, each patient’s municipal water rate, the proportion of time the patient was on HHD during the reimbursement period, calculated electricity and water usage amounts for the hemodialysis equipment used in their home, and each patient’s treatment schedule as prescribed by their nephrologist.

For more information on the Home Hemodialysis Utility Grant, click here.

About the Ontario Renal Network:

The Ontario Renal Network is a division of CCO and is the Ontario government’s principal chronic kidney disease advisor. It is committed to facilitating a province-wide effort to diminish the burden of chronic kidney disease on Ontarians and the healthcare system.

It provides leadership and strategic direction to effectively fund, organize and manage the delivery of kidney care services in Ontario in a consistent and coordinated manner. This includes preventing or delaying the need for dialysis, broadening appropriate patient-care options, improving the quality of all stages of kidney care, and building a world-class system for delivering care to Ontarians living with chronic kidney disease.

For more information, please contact:

Ontario Renal Network Media Relations
Phone: 1.855.460.2646
Email: media@cancercare.on.ca

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