In 1982, the DSN was designated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as the provider of long-distance communications service for the DOD.
1 A basic dialysis machine can be purchased in the regions of $15,000; however, this does not include any necessary supplies such as a drip. 2  For example, a NxStage kidney dialysis machine purchased with supplies can cost upwards of $45,000. 3  This does not include the costs of running the machine.
Currently, nearly 95,000 patients in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant. Dialysis for these patients costs approximately $60,000 a year, for a total of $30 billion a year, or 6.7 percent of total Medicare spending, the single most expensive component of Medicare.ialysis for these patients costs approximately $60,000 a year, for a total of $30 billion a year, or 6.7 percent of total Medicare spending, the single most expensive component of Medicare.