Can a Nurse Come to Your Home and Do Your Hemodialysis?

What does the nurse do at each treatment?

The nurse does the whole treatment, from start to finish. At every visit, the nurse:

• sets up the dialysis machine and the supplies,
• places the needles in your access (the fistula, graft, or catheter your doctor placed),
• runs the machine and checks your blood pressure the whole time,
• takes the needles out, cleans up, and removes the medical waste,
• writes up the visit and sends it to your nephrologist (your kidney doctor).

Your only job is your own chair.

How often does the nurse come?

The nurse comes three times a week. That is the same number of treatments as in-center hemodialysis. Only the place and the hands change.

One nurse cares for one patient for the whole treatment.

Who pays for a nurse to do dialysis at home?

Elik provides staff-assisted home hemodialysis for eligible patients with BCBS, Cigna, or UnitedHealthcare/UHC commercial coverage, including when Medicare is the primary insurance. Medicare-only, Medicare Advantage (including BCBS, Cigna, or UHC Medicare Advantage plans), Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans, and Medicaid do not pay for this service through Elik.

Elik confirms your exact plan in one free phone call.

Frequently asked questions

• Can a nurse do dialysis at home?
  Yes. A licensed dialysis nurse from Elik Home Dialysis performs every step of hemodialysis in your home, three times a week, in the Houston and Dallas metros.
• Do I need a family member to help with home hemodialysis?
  No. With Elik Home Dialysis, the nurse does every step. No care partner is required, and no patient training is required.
• Who places the needles?
  The licensed dialysis nurse places the needles and takes them out at every treatment.
• Does Medicare pay for a nurse to do dialysis at home?
  No. Original Medicare does not pay for staff-assisted home hemodialysis, by law. Medicare Advantage plans follow Medicare's reimbursement rules, so they do not pay for it either. Elik provides staff-assisted home hemodialysis for eligible patients with BCBS, Cigna, or UnitedHealthcare/UHC commercial coverage, including when Medicare is the primary insurance. Medicare-only, Medicare Advantage (including BCBS, Cigna, or UHC Medicare Advantage plans), Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans, and Medicaid do not pay for this service through Elik. If you have Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, or UnitedHealthcare commercial insurance, on its own or as a secondary plan alongside Medicare, you qualify. Elik confirms your exact plan in one phone call.
• How soon can I start?
  Most patients begin home dialysis within four to five days of insurance confirmation.