The public cost of kidney disease.

As part of the general concern with the cost of medical care, attention is being focused on the End-Stage Renal Disease program. However, much confusion surrounds the issue of the cost of end-stage renal care. This article seeks to clarify some of the points inherent in this issue by addressing the following questions: Who is covered by the program? How expensive is the program? Why have costs increased? Can costs be reduced without sacrificing quality or access? And, how can one object to a program that extends life?