NxStage Initiates 2013 ‘Call to Action’ Campaign with Launch of Hemodialysis At Home: A Better Way For a Better Life

LAWRENCE, Mass., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — NxStage Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTM) is reinforcing its efforts with patients, care partners and renal professionals to increase awareness about the benefits of home hemodialysis (HHD) and advocate for reimbursement policy changes with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) specifically as it relates to reimbursement for HHD training.

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Today, the Company initiated its 2013 ‘Call to Action’ campaign with the launch of Hemodialysis at Home: A Better Way For a Better Life. This effort will support and showcase the strength of dialyzors, care partners, physicians, nurses, patient advocates, and other renal professionals who believe patients need to have better access to the improved survival, clinical benefits and quality of life reported by many patients receiving more frequent home hemodialysis. The primary near-term goal of the project is to ensure that these supporters are heard by government officials and that current Medicare reimbursement for HHD training is fixed so that more patients have access to this therapy.

Patients have a right to be fully informed of all of their treatment options and to choose whichever therapy is best for them, said Joe Turk, President, North America at NxStage Medical, Inc. Hemodialysis at Home is aimed at stepping up our call to action campaign, increasing awareness, and showcasing the strength of support for HHD among dialyzors, care partners and the renal care community. The site is geared to attracting those who seek action and providing opportunities to engage at whatever level possible to change policies that limit patient access to this life-changing therapy.

More frequent and at home treatments made possible with home hemodialysis can allow people with kidney disease the freedom and flexibility to reclaim their lives. In fact, in a survey, more than 90% of nephrologists said they would choose a home dialysis therapy for themselves if informed they needed renal replacement therapy, with HHD being the preferred option. But surprisingly, more than 90% of patients undergoing dialysis in the United States are doing three-times-weekly in-center therapy, a therapy very few physicians would accept for themselves.

Supporters of Home Hemodialysis: A Better Way For a Better Life believe patients need to be better educated about the treatment options that exist and that Medicare payment policies should not prevent them from doing the treatment that they — and their doctors — feel is best.

About Hemodialysis at Home: A Better Way For a Better Life: Hemodialysis at Home: A Better Way For A Better Life brings together dialyzors, care partners, physicians, nurses, patient advocates, and other renal professionals from across the country who believe patients need to have better access to and more awareness of the improved quality of life reported to be made possible by home dialysis technology. Hemodialysis at Home: A Better Way For A Better Life is a project of NxStage. For more information, please visit www.HemoAtHome.org.

About NxStage Medical Inc.
NxStage is a medical device company, headquartered in Lawrence, MA, USA, which develops, manufactures, and markets innovative systems for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and acute kidney failure. The System One home hemodialysis device developed by NxStage is the only FDA approved portable hemodialysis machine cleared for home use. For more information on NxStage, or NxStage products, visit, https://www.nxstage.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this release that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words anticipate, believe, expect, estimate, plan, and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including those that are discussed in NxStage’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. NxStage is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE NxStage Medical, Inc.