MEDICARE: Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

This is from Medicare's web site in a section where you can compare different centers:

Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

As a person with kidney failure, you have certain rights and responsibilities. When you go to a treatment center, ask for a copy of your rights and responsibilities. This will help you know what to expect from your health care team and what they can expect from you. Your center may have lists like the following.
Your Rights

* I have the right to be told about my rights and responsibilities.
* I have the right to be treated with respect.
* I have the right to privacy. My medical records can’t be shared with anyone, unless I say so.
* I have the right to meet with my whole health care team to plan my treatment.
* I have the right to see the dietitian for help with food planning and the social worker for counseling.
* I have the right to be told about my health in a way that I understand.
* I have the right to be told about and to choose my treatment options.
* I have the right to be told about any tests ordered for me and the test results.
* I have the right to be told about the services offered at the center.
* I have the right to be told about the process of dialysis and dialyzer re-use.
* I have the right to be told about any expenses that I have to pay for if they are not covered by insurance or Medicare.
* I have the right to be told about any financial help available to me.
* I have the right to accept or refuse any treatment or medicine my doctor orders for me.
* I have the right to be told about the rules at the treatment center (for example, rules for visitors, eating, personal conduct, etc.)
* I have the right to choose if I want to be part of any research studies.

Your Responsibilities

* I need to treat other patients and staff as I would like to be treated, with respect.
* I need to pay my bills on time. If this is hard for me, I can ask about a payment plan.
* I need to tell my health care team if I refuse any treatment or medicine that my doctor has ordered for me.
* I need to tell my health care team if I don’t understand my medical condition or treatment plan.
* I need to be on time for my treatments or when I see my doctor.
* I need to tell the staff at the center if I know that I’m going to be late or miss a treatment or visit with my doctor.
* I need to tell my health care team if I have medical problems, am going to the dentist, am being treated by another doctor, or have recently been to the hospital.
* I need to follow the rules of the center.
* I need to get to and from the center for my treatments. I can talk with my social worker if I need help doing this. Medicare does not pay for transportation.

Page Last Updated: April 20, 2007 http://www.medicare.gov/Dialysis/Static/PatientRights.asp?dest=NAV|Home|Resources|PatientRights