Section 540. Kidney transplantation (KT)

Part VIII. Organ Transplant Services

A. Patient selection criteria for provision of kidney transplantation. Transplantation of the kidney is a surgical treatment whereby a diseased kidney is replaced by a healthy organ. Pre-authorization is required. The following patient selection criteria shall apply for the consideration of all approvals for coverage and reimbursement for kidney transplantation.

1. Current medical therapy has failed and patient has failed to respond to appropriate conservative management;

2. The patient does not have other systemic disease including but not limited to the following:

a. Reversible renal conditions;

b. Major extra-renal complications (malignancy, systemic disease, cerebral cardio-arterial disease);

c. Active infection;

d. Severe malnutrition; or

e. Pancytopenia.

3. The patient is not in both an irreversible terminal state and on a life support system;

4. Adequate supervision will be provided to assure there will be strict adherence to the medical regimen which is required;

5. The KT is likely to prolong life and restore a range of physical and social function suited to activities of daily living;

6. A facility with appropriate expertise has evaluated the patient, and has indicated willingness to undertake the procedure;

7. The patient does not have multiple uncorrectable severe major system congenital anomalies;

8. Failure to meet (1) through (7) above shall result in denial of pre-authorization and coverage for the requested kidney transplant procedures.

B. Facility selection criteria for kidney transplantation (KT). For medical facility to qualify as an approved Virginia Medicaid provider for performing kidney transplants, the following conditions must be met:

1. The facility has available expertise in immunology, infectious disease, pathology, pharmacology, and anesthesiology;

2. The KT program staff has extensive experience and expertise in the medical and surgical treatment of renal disease;

3. Transplant surgeons on the staff have been trained in the KT technique at an institution with a well established KT program;

4. The transplantation program has adequate services to provide specialized psychosocial and social support for patients and families;

5. Adequate blood bank support services are present and available;

6. Satisfactory arrangements exist for donor procurement services;

7. The institution is committed to a program of at least 25 KTs a year;

8. The center has a consistent, equitable, and practical protocol for selection of patients (at a minimum, the DMAS Patient Selection Criteria must be met and adhered to);

9. The center has the capacity and commitment to conduct a systematic evaluation of outcome and cost;

10. In addition to hospital administration and medical staff endorsement, hospital staff support also exists for such a program;

11. The hospital has an active, ongoing renal dialysis service;

12. The hospital has access to staff with extensive skills in tissue typing, immunological and immunosuppressive techniques;

13. Initial approval as KT center requires performance of 25 KTs within the most recent 12 months, with a one year survival rate of at least 90%. Centers that fail to meet this requirement during the first year will be given a one-year conditional approval. Failure to meet the volume requirement following the conditional approval will result in loss of approval.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR460-02-3.1500, eff. July 19, 1993; amended, Volume 10, Issue 18, eff. July 14, 1994; Volume 14, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1998.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.