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In this issue:
CMS Announced First Results of Quality Incentive Program
DPC Board Member Testifies to the FDA
DPC Welcomes Zeina Kinkel
World Kidney Day Countdown
January Schedule of Events
CMS Announced First Results of Quality Incentive Program
DPC Board Member Testifies to the FDA
DPC Welcomes Zeina Kinkel
World Kidney Day Countdown
January Schedule of Events
CMS Announced First Results of Quality Incentive Program
In December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the first results for the new ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), aimed at evaluating dialysis facility performance on a set of quality measures that reflect key areas of dialysis care. Facilities that fail to meet the QIP performance standards during a performance year receive a reduction in their payment rates for dialysis services under the new ESRD bundled payment system.
For 2012, facilities were assessed on a total of three quality measures: two measures of anemia management and one of dialysis adequacy. Nearly 70 percent of dialysis facilities that were evaluated under the program met the quality standards and will therefore receive no payment reduction in payment year 2012. However, the remaining 30 percent will receive reductions ranging from 0.5 percent to 2.0 percent depending on their final performance scores.
Each dialysis facility is required to post a certificate displaying its performance on the ESRD QIP measures in a prominent location accessible to the public. In addition, performance information will be posted on the Dialysis Facility Compare website if you are interested in looking at the results of your facility. We encourage you to discuss these results with your dialysis care team and hope that this information will help patients make better informed decisions about their care.
More information on the QIP and the results can be found here.
In December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the first results for the new ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), aimed at evaluating dialysis facility performance on a set of quality measures that reflect key areas of dialysis care. Facilities that fail to meet the QIP performance standards during a performance year receive a reduction in their payment rates for dialysis services under the new ESRD bundled payment system.
For 2012, facilities were assessed on a total of three quality measures: two measures of anemia management and one of dialysis adequacy. Nearly 70 percent of dialysis facilities that were evaluated under the program met the quality standards and will therefore receive no payment reduction in payment year 2012. However, the remaining 30 percent will receive reductions ranging from 0.5 percent to 2.0 percent depending on their final performance scores.
Each dialysis facility is required to post a certificate displaying its performance on the ESRD QIP measures in a prominent location accessible to the public. In addition, performance information will be posted on the Dialysis Facility Compare website if you are interested in looking at the results of your facility. We encourage you to discuss these results with your dialysis care team and hope that this information will help patients make better informed decisions about their care.
More information on the QIP and the results can be found here.
DPC Board Member Testifies to the FDA
In December, DPC Board Member Eric Edwards traveled to Washington, DC to discuss the importance of anemia management in front of a Food and Drug Administration Open Public Hearing on a new anemia drug application submitted by Affymax.
In his testimony, Eric highlighted the importance of anemia management for preserving quality of life for those affected by kidney disease. He discussed the need for patient choice and the importance of incentivizing innovation in the dialysis market.
Following Eric’s testimony, the Advisory Panel approved the new drug, which will now go to the FDA for final approval.
In his testimony, Eric highlighted the importance of anemia management for preserving quality of life for those affected by kidney disease. He discussed the need for patient choice and the importance of incentivizing innovation in the dialysis market.
Following Eric’s testimony, the Advisory Panel approved the new drug, which will now go to the FDA for final approval.
DPC Welcomes Zeina Kinkel
Last month, Zeina Kinkel joined the DPC team as the new Government Affairs Associate.
Zeina was most recently employed as an executive assistant for a private financial advisor. She also served as Communications Director for former Maryland State Senator Mike Lenett’s reelection campaign in 2010 and worked as a communication liaison with the non-profit Team River Runner.
Zeina grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and spent her summers as a child with family in Jordan. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Maryland - College Park and spent time studying International Business at Universita Catolica del Sacre Cuore in Milan, Italy. Zeina is currently working on her MBA at the University of Maryland - University College.
We would also like to wish Andrea Blamble, DPC’s former Government Affairs Associate, all the best with her future endeavors. Andrea left DPC to relocate to New York City, where she will continue working the kidney community with a new position at the National Kidney Foundation.
Last month, Zeina Kinkel joined the DPC team as the new Government Affairs Associate.
Zeina was most recently employed as an executive assistant for a private financial advisor. She also served as Communications Director for former Maryland State Senator Mike Lenett’s reelection campaign in 2010 and worked as a communication liaison with the non-profit Team River Runner.
Zeina grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and spent her summers as a child with family in Jordan. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Maryland - College Park and spent time studying International Business at Universita Catolica del Sacre Cuore in Milan, Italy. Zeina is currently working on her MBA at the University of Maryland - University College.
We would also like to wish Andrea Blamble, DPC’s former Government Affairs Associate, all the best with her future endeavors. Andrea left DPC to relocate to New York City, where she will continue working the kidney community with a new position at the National Kidney Foundation.
World Kidney Day Countdown
March is National Kidney Month, and this year March 8 is World Kidney Day (WKD).
WKD commemorates a global kidney health awareness campaign, which focuses on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. This year’s World Kidney Day theme is “Donate - Kidneys for Life - Receive,” focusing on the positive outcome of kidney transplantation and the life-saving aspect of organ donation
During the month of March, we encourage you to participate in this important awareness building effort by educating your local community about kidney disease. One way you can do this is to hold an awareness event at a local organization you belong to, a community center or a place of worship. DPC has educational materials you can hand out about preventing kidney disease.
Another great way to alert others about the need to protect their kidney health is through sharing your personal story of living with kidney disease. The more information we bring to our communities, the better the chance we have at reducing the number of new people afflicted with kidney failure.
You can also reach out to your fellow dialysis patients and help them better manage their care and health in order to lessen the impact kidney failure has on their lives. You can encourage them to take the first step by becoming a member of DPC. We can help by offering our educational resources to them.
If you are interested in hosting a World Kidney Day event in your community or clinic or if you would like to receive free educational materials for an awareness event, please visit our website or contact us toll free at 1-866-877-4242.
January Schedule of Events
Happy New Year! DPC is happy to announce its list of activities for the month of January 2012. Please let us know if you have any questions about DPC events or activities, and we hope you enjoy the start to the new year!
*POSTPONNED* January 13: Patient Ambassador Leadership Seminar (PALS) Call (open to Patient Ambassadors only) – Stay tuned for more information.
January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (DPC offices will be closed for the holiday)
January 31: Patient Ambassador Monthly Call (open to Patient Ambassadors only).
>If you would like more information about our Patient Ambassador program, visit our website or call 1-866-877-4242.