Tampa, Fla., Nov. 11, 2009 – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is hosting an AAKP HealthLine conference call on the proposed bundling of dialysis services. The call takes place Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET.

AAKP HealthLine is a FREE, one-hour conference call designed to educate kidney patients on a variety of topics affecting them and their families. Conference calls feature kidney health care experts from across the country and provide patients with the convenience of gaining knowledge from the comfort of their home or office.

Conference calls are organized by AAKP. Participation is FREE and no phone charges apply. To learn more about AAKP HealthLine or to register for the upcoming call, contact AAKP at (800) 749-AAKP or visit www.aakp.org/events/HealthLine. Patients can also listen to archived calls on the AAKP Web site.

The upcoming AAKP HealthLine conference call focuses on the proposed end-stage renal disease payment system. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their proposed bundled payment structure September 15, 2009. It includes provisions that state dialysis services and medications will be paid to dialysis providers in one lump payment - this is known as “the bundle.” This new payment system is scheduled to go into effect January 2011. Join AAKP on this upcoming HealthLine conference call to understand how this new piece of legislation may affect dialysis patients and their dialysis treatments.

To register for this AAKP HealthLine conference call, contact 1-800-749-2257 or visit www.aakp.org/events/HealthLine.

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AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for 40 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.