Promoting Quality Kidney Care in a Historic Year for Health Care
2009 brought an unprecedented new focus on our nation’s health care which included the introduction of comprehensive health care reform legislation as well as numerous policy proposals anticipated to impact the way kidney care is delivered. Throughout the year, amid all the debates about these proposals in Washington, D.C. and beyond, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) and our members stepped up to ensure that our voices were heard on key issues.
On a national level, DPC members spoke out on the proposed End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) bundle, gave testimony at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ESRD Town Hall Forum and successfully advocated for additional funding for the new Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) IV education benefit. Our work did not stop there. DPC members made their presence felt in our nation’s capitol, in their home states and in their communities through Congressional visits, letters, briefings, online action and more.
We thank you, our members and friends, for continuing to help us advocate for improved quality of care and quality of life for all kidney patients. Through your dedication to improving quality kidney care and getting involved in making a difference, you are the force behind DPC’s growth and success. We sincerely thank you for your support, and we look forward to another successful year together in 2010!
Our 2009 achievements include:
Membership Activation
- Total membership of 22,056, including membership in 50 states
- Expanded number of Patient Ambassadors to 392, including membership in 42 states
- Provided new Patient Ambassador Leadership Seminars (PALS) – advanced training on advocacy and community leadership – on state advocacy, federal advocacy, working with the media, and grassroots organization
- Launched Ambassadors Coordination Together (ACT) in four states – a program to facilitate collaboration among Patient Ambassadors residing in the same states
Federal Advocacy
- Sent more than 2,200 e-mails to Congress
- Coordinated 126 visits with lawmakers
- Participated in Congressional briefings
Community Partnership
- Led initiative to send patient organization letter to CMS requesting an Open Door Forum on the proposed ESRD bundled payment including NKF American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) , American Kidney Fund (AKF), Medical Education Institute (MEI) and the Renal Support Network (RSN)
- Co-hosted World Kidney Day reception with lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill with the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), NationalKidney Foundation (NKF) and Kidney Care Partners (KCP)
- Held a World Kidney Day “fly-in” event with NKF and ASN, including 30 patients and family members who traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and staff on kidney care issues
Regulatory Activity
- Provided oral testimony at the CMS ESRD Town Hall Forum
- Provided written comments to CMS on the proposed ESRD bundle
- Successfully lobbied for additional funding for the new CKD IV education benefit
State Advocacy
- Coordinated with DPC members on state advocacy initiatives in Arizona, California, Washington, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Texas and Hawaii
- Hosted an Arizona Dialysis Day to educate lawmakers about the effects that would result from Medicaid cuts to dialysis care
- Established a tailored online advocacy tool to support the successful passage of Medigap legislation in Florida
Member Education and Community-Building
- Translated core educational materials into Spanish
- Distributed new education supplement and educational pieces on immunizations and the flu
- Released an updated educational booklet, “The Power of Iron”
- Expanded upon the popular “Ask a Dietician” educational offering
- Launched the “Ask a Pharmacist” educational offering
- Published as an expert source in national kidney trade Renal Business Today
- DPC Patient Ambassadors provided first-hand education to members of their community during local kidney screenings
