• K R Petronis, C E Carroll, P J Held, and F K Port.
• Health Policy Center, Urban Institute, Washington, DC.
• JAMA. 1994 Jun 8; 271 (22): 176017631760-3.

ObjectiveTo quantify access to recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) among patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease (ESRD).DesignNational random sample of hemodialysis patients from a random sample of dialysis units, using data abstracted from patients' medical records.SettingAll US hemodialysis units.ParticipantsA total of 4024 Medicare-entitled in-center hemodialysis patients.Main Outcome MeasuresThe relative odds that black patients received EPO (compared with white patients).ResultsThere was no evidence in this national study that black hemodialysis patients were more or less likely to receive EPO than white patients (P = .74).ConclusionsThree years after Food and Drug Administration approval and Medicare coverage of EPO, there was no evidence of racial disparity in access to EPO among Medicare patients with ESRD who were receiving long-term hemodialysis. However, there was evidence of greater need for EPO among black patients.

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