Advancing Kidney Care in Medicare Advantage: How MA Enrollment Affects Dialysis Patients
Official title: A quasi-experimental evaluation of Medicare Advantage enrollment on dialysis care and outcomes
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11353001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how switching to Medicare Advantage affects the treatment and everyday care of people with end-stage kidney disease who need dialysis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $169,991 |
| NIH project number | 1K08DK147769-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis and are enrolled in or eligible for Medicare Advantage.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who remain in fee-for-service Medicare without any switch to MA or those with minimal interaction with MA plans may see no difference.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one relies on dialysis, this study examines whether enrolling in Medicare Advantage changes how medications are used, costs, and access to care. Researchers will compare real-world data from Medicare claims to see how MA enrollment influences drug use, out-of-pocket expenses, emergency visits, hospitalizations, and dialysis treatment adherence. The study uses real-world evidence and quasi-experimental methods to try to separate the effect of MA from other factors. It also investigates which patient characteristics and regional factors are linked to choosing MA. The goal is to better understand whether MA plans improve or worsen care quality and access for dialysis patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If MA enrollment improves access and reduces unnecessary costs, patients on dialysis could experience smoother care and fewer interruptions in treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Evidence from related areas suggests mixed results; this study addresses a specific high-risk population (dialysis patients) and MA impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caldwell, Jillian Scott — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Caldwell, Jillian Scott
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How dialysis facility growth affects care for people with end-stage kidney disease
New research will examine whether the spread of dialysis centers and new treatment technologies benefit patients with end-stage kidney disease, and whether benefits reach all communities.
-
MOVE Trial: Tailored motivational support to help African Americans stick with dialysis
A study tests a customized motivational interviewing approach to help African American dialysis patients stay adherent to their treatment, aiming to reduce hospitalizations and improve health.
-
Blood sugar monitoring for people on maintenance dialysis
This project tests how continuous glucose monitoring can better track blood sugar in people on dialysis to improve diabetes care and prevent complications.
-
Quality of life for people on home dialysis and their family caregivers
This grant studies how living with home dialysis affects daily life and the well-being of patients and their family caregivers.
-
Patient-provider conversations and unequal access to home dialysis and kidney transplant
This project explores how conversations between doctors and patients affect why some Black and Hispanic people with kidney disease don’t get home dialysis or preemptive kidney transplants as often as White or Asian patients.
-
CHOOSE Home: Using community health workers to boost home dialysis and social care in CKD
A real-world trial tests adding community health workers to an interdisciplinary CKD clinic to help patients access home dialysis options.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.