PAMI payment cuts threaten dialysis services in Argentina

Dialysis centers across Argentina are facing a critical situation due to payment cuts and a lack of budget updates from PAMI, the country’s largest health insurance provider. Medical associations report that while PAMI covers approximately 50% of the nation's 31,000 dialysis patients, the reimbursement modules have not been updated in nearly 18 months and recently underwent an 8% reduction.

Providers warn that the current reimbursement rates fail to cover essential costs, including medical supplies, staff salaries, laboratory studies, and patient transportation. In Mendoza, more than 750 patients are reportedly at risk, while the Argentine Confederation of Dialysis notes that its 200 affiliated centers serve 4,700 PAMI patients nationwide.

Medical professionals emphasize that while they continue to provide life-sustaining treatment out of necessity, the financial gap is becoming unsustainable. Representatives from the dialysis sector have sought intervention from both the National Ministry of Health and provincial authorities to address the funding deficit and prevent service interruptions.