Predictors of Provider-Patient Visit Frequency during Hemodialysis

In 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services tied reimbursement for outpatient hemodialysis services to the number of times per month providers see their dialysis patients, resulting in increased provider-patient visit frequency. Greater provider-patient visit frequency is associated with lower hospitalization risk for hemodialysis patients, and determinants of visit frequency are uncertain. We aimed to identify patient, provider, and dialysis facility characteristics associated with provider visit frequency.