Eugene Lin
@eugelin06.bsky.social
Nephrologist at the University of Southern California (@keck.usc.edu @schaeffer.usc.edu)
Health Policy Nerd
#nephbbq enthusiast
Health Policy Nerd
#nephbbq enthusiast
Pinned
Eugene Lin
@eugelin06.bsky.social
· Apr 10
While health regulations are usually well intentioned they often are poorly implemented
Dialysis is a prime example of regulation perpetuating a consolidated industry with no market competition, poor outcomes &price gouging
New in HealthAffairs Forefront
🧵1/ (link at end)
x.com/Health_Affai...
Dialysis is a prime example of regulation perpetuating a consolidated industry with no market competition, poor outcomes &price gouging
New in HealthAffairs Forefront
🧵1/ (link at end)
x.com/Health_Affai...
I had the privilege of writing a commentary in @jamanetworkopen.com
on this very interesting qualitative study re: Medicare Advantage advertising in dialysis
In short, the flurry of ads are often misleading to patients, and it's unclear if patients are shortchanged
🧵 1/
on this very interesting qualitative study re: Medicare Advantage advertising in dialysis
In short, the flurry of ads are often misleading to patients, and it's unclear if patients are shortchanged
🧵 1/
June 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I had the privilege of writing a commentary in @jamanetworkopen.com
on this very interesting qualitative study re: Medicare Advantage advertising in dialysis
In short, the flurry of ads are often misleading to patients, and it's unclear if patients are shortchanged
🧵 1/
on this very interesting qualitative study re: Medicare Advantage advertising in dialysis
In short, the flurry of ads are often misleading to patients, and it's unclear if patients are shortchanged
🧵 1/
My daughter is too cute
May 28, 2025 at 1:57 PM
My daughter is too cute
Reposted by Eugene Lin
How do out-of-pocket (OOP) costs at the point of pharmacy affect access to medications?
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
April 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
How do out-of-pocket (OOP) costs at the point of pharmacy affect access to medications?
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
Reposted by Eugene Lin
Money shot below ⬇️
Compare to pts with FULL rx subsidies (who pay $0), pts with pts with Part D but NO subsidies had 10pp more rx fills, and pts with PARTIAL subsidies had 2pp more rx fills post-TDAPA.
i.e., the more you paid pre-TDAPA, the more meds you filled post-policy
Compare to pts with FULL rx subsidies (who pay $0), pts with pts with Part D but NO subsidies had 10pp more rx fills, and pts with PARTIAL subsidies had 2pp more rx fills post-TDAPA.
i.e., the more you paid pre-TDAPA, the more meds you filled post-policy
Using a difference-in-differences estimator (we used a 2-way fixed effects estimator in an event study), we show close to parallel trajectories among these 4 groups, but a relative increase in calcimimetic access, again based on the generosity of the subsidy
14/
14/
April 19, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Money shot below ⬇️
Compare to pts with FULL rx subsidies (who pay $0), pts with pts with Part D but NO subsidies had 10pp more rx fills, and pts with PARTIAL subsidies had 2pp more rx fills post-TDAPA.
i.e., the more you paid pre-TDAPA, the more meds you filled post-policy
Compare to pts with FULL rx subsidies (who pay $0), pts with pts with Part D but NO subsidies had 10pp more rx fills, and pts with PARTIAL subsidies had 2pp more rx fills post-TDAPA.
i.e., the more you paid pre-TDAPA, the more meds you filled post-policy
Reposted by Eugene Lin
Latest publication! 🚨
TL;DR:
1) MANY patients on dialysis pay high OOP costs for drugs 💸
-- nearly 20% have NO PART D plan
-- 25% have NO rx subsidies
2) Covering calcimimetics in Part B via TDAPA instead of Part D INCREASED rx fills 📈
Check out @eugelin06.bsky.social's 🧵 & our paper ⬇️
TL;DR:
1) MANY patients on dialysis pay high OOP costs for drugs 💸
-- nearly 20% have NO PART D plan
-- 25% have NO rx subsidies
2) Covering calcimimetics in Part B via TDAPA instead of Part D INCREASED rx fills 📈
Check out @eugelin06.bsky.social's 🧵 & our paper ⬇️
April 19, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Latest publication! 🚨
TL;DR:
1) MANY patients on dialysis pay high OOP costs for drugs 💸
-- nearly 20% have NO PART D plan
-- 25% have NO rx subsidies
2) Covering calcimimetics in Part B via TDAPA instead of Part D INCREASED rx fills 📈
Check out @eugelin06.bsky.social's 🧵 & our paper ⬇️
TL;DR:
1) MANY patients on dialysis pay high OOP costs for drugs 💸
-- nearly 20% have NO PART D plan
-- 25% have NO rx subsidies
2) Covering calcimimetics in Part B via TDAPA instead of Part D INCREASED rx fills 📈
Check out @eugelin06.bsky.social's 🧵 & our paper ⬇️
Shout out again @jilliancaldwell.bsky.social - she's a PHENOM and an all-star research fellow
This project wasn't easy: she stitched together multiple complex datasets and studied a very complex policy
I don't know when she's going on the market, but folks need to pay attention to her
This project wasn't easy: she stitched together multiple complex datasets and studied a very complex policy
I don't know when she's going on the market, but folks need to pay attention to her
How do out-of-pocket (OOP) costs at the point of pharmacy affect access to medications?
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
April 18, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Shout out again @jilliancaldwell.bsky.social - she's a PHENOM and an all-star research fellow
This project wasn't easy: she stitched together multiple complex datasets and studied a very complex policy
I don't know when she's going on the market, but folks need to pay attention to her
This project wasn't easy: she stitched together multiple complex datasets and studied a very complex policy
I don't know when she's going on the market, but folks need to pay attention to her
How do out-of-pocket (OOP) costs at the point of pharmacy affect access to medications?
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
April 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
How do out-of-pocket (OOP) costs at the point of pharmacy affect access to medications?
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
In a paper @JAMAHealthForum
(with Jillian Caldwell & others), we examine @CMSGov
TDAPA policy and show that it improved access to calcimimetics likely by reducing OOP
🧵1/ (LINK at end)
Reposted by Eugene Lin
🚨 Registration is open for Nephro-Economics 2025!
Join ASN and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, for key insights on kidney care trends, policy updates, and more.
🗓️ May 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT
Register now! 🔗 bit.ly/NephroEcon25
Join ASN and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, for key insights on kidney care trends, policy updates, and more.
🗓️ May 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT
Register now! 🔗 bit.ly/NephroEcon25
April 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
🚨 Registration is open for Nephro-Economics 2025!
Join ASN and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, for key insights on kidney care trends, policy updates, and more.
🗓️ May 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT
Register now! 🔗 bit.ly/NephroEcon25
Join ASN and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Division of Nephrology, for key insights on kidney care trends, policy updates, and more.
🗓️ May 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT
Register now! 🔗 bit.ly/NephroEcon25
I cannot believe a restaurant just upcharged me 5% for OPERATING COSTS
Never going to Bottega Louie again
Never going to Bottega Louie again
April 16, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I cannot believe a restaurant just upcharged me 5% for OPERATING COSTS
Never going to Bottega Louie again
Never going to Bottega Louie again
Reposted by Eugene Lin
Thanks to my coauthors Khristina Lung, Derick Rapista,
Leanne Kuo, Desi Peneva, Darius Lakdawalla, Karen Van Nuys @keckmedicineusc.bsky.social @schaeffer.usc.edu
LINK: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
FIN/
Leanne Kuo, Desi Peneva, Darius Lakdawalla, Karen Van Nuys @keckmedicineusc.bsky.social @schaeffer.usc.edu
LINK: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
FIN/
Care Continuity, Nephrologists’ Dialysis Facility Preferences, and Outcomes
This cohort study analyzes whether care continuity with the predialysis nephrologist is associated with dialysis start quality, downstream outcomes associated with facility quality, and racial dispari...
jamanetwork.com
April 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Thanks to my coauthors Khristina Lung, Derick Rapista,
Leanne Kuo, Desi Peneva, Darius Lakdawalla, Karen Van Nuys @keckmedicineusc.bsky.social @schaeffer.usc.edu
LINK: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
FIN/
Leanne Kuo, Desi Peneva, Darius Lakdawalla, Karen Van Nuys @keckmedicineusc.bsky.social @schaeffer.usc.edu
LINK: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
FIN/
Reposted by Eugene Lin
How do patients select dialysis facilities? Proximity? Quality? Preserving care continuity with their nephrologist?
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
April 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
How do patients select dialysis facilities? Proximity? Quality? Preserving care continuity with their nephrologist?
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
Reposted by Eugene Lin
Patients often start #dialysis at their nephrologist's primary facilities, even when they are of low quality, finds a new @jama.com Health Forum study from Schaeffer Scholar @eugelin06.bsky.social.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Care Continuity, Nephrologists’ Dialysis Facility Preferences, and Outcomes
This cohort study analyzes whether care continuity with the predialysis nephrologist is associated with dialysis start quality, downstream outcomes associated with facility quality, and racial dispari...
jamanetwork.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Patients often start #dialysis at their nephrologist's primary facilities, even when they are of low quality, finds a new @jama.com Health Forum study from Schaeffer Scholar @eugelin06.bsky.social.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
We need to stop using the 2728 form for research. We also need to stop expecting facilities to do our research for free. The form keeps getting bigger, and the data in it have never been adjudicated.
In my opinion, anything the facility can’t easily collect in 2 seconds is suspect
In my opinion, anything the facility can’t easily collect in 2 seconds is suspect
I’ve tried to adjudicate items in the 2728 using the Medicare claims, and I’ve never successfully adjudicated any.
There are so many logistical problems with getting the pre-dialysis creatinine especially when half the population crash starts.
I don’t trust most of the data in that form
There are so many logistical problems with getting the pre-dialysis creatinine especially when half the population crash starts.
I don’t trust most of the data in that form
April 14, 2025 at 12:12 AM
We need to stop using the 2728 form for research. We also need to stop expecting facilities to do our research for free. The form keeps getting bigger, and the data in it have never been adjudicated.
In my opinion, anything the facility can’t easily collect in 2 seconds is suspect
In my opinion, anything the facility can’t easily collect in 2 seconds is suspect
Reposted by Eugene Lin
Thrilled to share a special moment w/my daughter Bella w/her research poster @nkf-professionals.bsky.social Huge thank you to Dr. Ladan Golestaneh for mentoring so many aspiring young scientists! 🧡 It was also inspiring to connect w/others who fuel passion for science! #NKFClinicals
April 13, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Thrilled to share a special moment w/my daughter Bella w/her research poster @nkf-professionals.bsky.social Huge thank you to Dr. Ladan Golestaneh for mentoring so many aspiring young scientists! 🧡 It was also inspiring to connect w/others who fuel passion for science! #NKFClinicals
April 13, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Reposted by Eugene Lin
Congrats to all the @nkf-professionals.bsky.social #nkf2025 awardees!
April 12, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Congrats to all the @nkf-professionals.bsky.social #nkf2025 awardees!
April 12, 2025 at 12:35 AM
How do patients select dialysis facilities? Proximity? Quality? Preserving care continuity with their nephrologist?
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
April 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
How do patients select dialysis facilities? Proximity? Quality? Preserving care continuity with their nephrologist?
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
Our latest in @JAMAHealthForum
suggests patients value proximity and care continuity.
Quality gets sacrificed
🧵(link at end) 1/
Reposted by Eugene Lin
While health regulations are usually well intentioned they often are poorly implemented
Dialysis is a prime example of regulation perpetuating a consolidated industry with no market competition, poor outcomes &price gouging
New in HealthAffairs Forefront
🧵1/ (link at end)
x.com/Health_Affai...
Dialysis is a prime example of regulation perpetuating a consolidated industry with no market competition, poor outcomes &price gouging
New in HealthAffairs Forefront
🧵1/ (link at end)
x.com/Health_Affai...
April 10, 2025 at 1:38 AM
While health regulations are usually well intentioned they often are poorly implemented
Dialysis is a prime example of regulation perpetuating a consolidated industry with no market competition, poor outcomes &price gouging
New in HealthAffairs Forefront
🧵1/ (link at end)
x.com/Health_Affai...
Dialysis is a prime example of regulation perpetuating a consolidated industry with no market competition, poor outcomes &price gouging
New in HealthAffairs Forefront
🧵1/ (link at end)
x.com/Health_Affai...
Reposted by Eugene Lin
On Saturday, UKRO hosted a mixer at Pitfire Pizza Pasadena for students from USC KDSAP and faculty from @keck.usc.edu. Students had the opportunity to network & learn about novel research approaches to address #kidneydisease. Thank you to all who came!
April 8, 2025 at 1:18 AM
On Saturday, UKRO hosted a mixer at Pitfire Pizza Pasadena for students from USC KDSAP and faculty from @keck.usc.edu. Students had the opportunity to network & learn about novel research approaches to address #kidneydisease. Thank you to all who came!
Really fun collaborating with Ge Bai and Erin Trish on this one!
The disappointing state of U.S. #dialysis care, largely driven by regulatory failures, should serve as a cautionary tale for policymakers, write Schaeffer's @eugelin06.bsky.social and Erin Trish with Ge Bai (@jhu.edu) in Health Affairs Forefront.
www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...
How Regulatory Failures Have Crippled Dialysis Care | Health Affairs Forefront
End-stage renal disease should serve as a cautionary tale for policy makers seeking to avoid the pitfalls of poorly designed policy.
www.healthaffairs.org
April 10, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Really fun collaborating with Ge Bai and Erin Trish on this one!