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Congressional August Recess
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 Members of Congress traditionally return to their home districts during the month of August. Congress originally adjourned annually to avoid the Washington, DC heat. Today, members of Congress use the recess to spend time back in their districts or for official travel.
Since most members of Congress will be back in their districts in August, it’s a great time to schedule a dialysis facility tour or to visit their district office. Members’ calendars can fill up quickly, so now is a good time to begin reaching out to schedule these visits.
>Please let us know your plans for contacting your members of Congress during the August recess.
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Strengthening Relationships Between Patients and Caregivers
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 Recently DPC launched a program called Partners in Care. This new program allows professional caregivers the opportunity to become a part of DPC and work with us towards our goal of improving the quality of life of dialysis patients.
On July 28th DPC asks our new Partners in Care to join our Patient Ambassadors by teleconference to discuss ways that patients and caregivers can strengthen their relationships. We realize that a joint effort at communication between patients and their health care team is often the key to improving patients’ health and lives. This conference call will provide patients and caregivers the ability to discuss ways they can improve the relationship they have in their dialysis clinics.
If you are a professional caregiver working in a dialysis setting and would like to join this call please email us. The call will take place via toll-free conference call on Wednesday July 28th at 2:00p.m. Eastern.
>RSVP for the July 28th Call
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Health Reform Law Provides a Way for People with Chronic Kidney Disease to Get Health Insurance
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 On July 1st states should begin providing information on high risk pools designed to cover individuals who have been uninsured for six months or longer and denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. This is a requirement from the recently passed health reform laws. Coverage is expected to begin August 1 for some states, but many states are reporting they are a month or two behind the deadline. The premiums insurers charge will have to be the same as what the insurance companies are selling to individuals without health complications.
If you have Chronic Kidney Disease (stages 1-4) or have a kidney transplant and have been denied insurance coverage while uninsured for six months or longer, you may qualify for this new coverage. To learn more about the costs of insurance and whether you can qualify, you can check with your state’s Department of Insurance. You can locate their website through the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s website, under “states and jurisdictions maps”.
You should apply early and make sure you have proof that you have been denied coverage, have been uninsured for six months or more and have a preexisting condition. You may be asked for this documentation.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Works to Improve the Quality of Life and the Health of Individuals Living with Multiple Chronic Conditions
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 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has created a workgroup to develop ideas for improving the health of individuals who suffer from multiple chronic conditions. If you have kidney disease, you may also suffer from a variety of other health conditions like diabetes and/or heart disease.
DPC commends HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for working to improve the quality of life and the health of individuals who are living with chronic diseases. DPC submitted a letter to the Secretary thanking her for the agency’s attention to this issue and provided our input on the workgroup’s initial plan.
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Please Continue to Ask Congress to Support Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage
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 Last year, Dialysis Patient Citizens’ (DPC) membership declared that their top advocacy priority was obtaining lifetime immunosuppressive drug coverage for kidney transplant patients. Currently, Medicare will pay for most kidney transplants but only cover drugs for 36 months post-transplant as part of the Medicare ESRD benefit. Following these 36 months, patients are responsible for paying for the immunosuppressive drugs on their own, which is often difficult for patients. And yet, transplant recipients must take these vital drugs for the life of the transplant in order to prevent the body’s rejection of the organ.
The Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act (HR 1458/S 565) works to help patients by extending immunosuppressive drug coverage over the life of a transplant. While it was included in the health reform bill approved by the House of Representatives in November of last year, it was not incorporated in the Senate bill in December nor in the final legislation signed by President Obama in March 2010. Still, the bill remains active as a stand-alone bill, and DPC continues to seek Congressional support for it. Now is the time to act.
You can help! We are currently working to increase the number of members of Congress co-sponsoring this bill in order to create momentum around this issue. Please take a moment to contact your members of Congress and ask them to become a co-sponsor of the Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act (HR 1458/S 565).
>Email Congress
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California Living Donor Registry
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 On Thursday June 3rd, the California Senate approved SB 1395 in an attempt to create the nation’s first altruistic (living) organ donor database. The bill still needs to pass the House of Representatives to be implemented into law by the state of California, but it has the Governor’s support.
There are currently over 21,000 Californians awaiting organ transplants. And of them, 17,000 are waiting for kidneys. This altruistic donor database would be the first registry for living donors in national history. The bill would also work to simplify organ registration for Californians to become donors upon their death. In addition, the legislation would adjust current motor vehicle applications to include a yes/no check box to register as an organ donor. All Californians applying or renewing their driver’s license or identification cards would have to mark yes or no in order to complete the application. Donate Life reports that approximately 25% of those applying for or renewing a driver's license or identification card sign up as donors. With this simplified process, and the addition of the living donor database, the projected outcome is an increase in overall organ donors.
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South Carolina Legislature Unable to Vote on Medigap Legislation this Year
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 Although the kidney community experienced recent Medigap victories in Tennessee and Georgia, legislation for Medigap coverage for Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 (SC HB4552) did not pass in the state of South Carolina this year. However, several key lawmakers have assured that it will be brought up upon the reconvening of the legislature early next year.
DPC helped to organize almost 50 dialysis patients to lobby in South Carolina for the bill to pass. And with hard work, we will try to make Medigap coverage a reality in 2011 in South Carolina and other states that do not offer this coverage currently. Thirty-one states require insurance companies to offer Medigap policies to individuals with ESRD. Congress should extend the opportunity to purchase Medigap policies to all Medicare beneficiaries.
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In this issue:
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- August Recess
- Partners in Care
- Health Insurance Options
- DHHS Creates Workgroup
- Immuno Drug Coverage
- CA Donor Registry
- SC Medigap Update
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Related Links
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> HOT NEWS
> PATIENT CONNECTIONS
> EDUCATION
> RESOURCES
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Email Congress
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Please take a minute to send your Members of Congress an email asking them to support kidney patients.
>Ask Congress to Support Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplants
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Email State Lawmakers
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Many kidney care reforms will take place at the state level of government. It's important to start educating your state legislators about kidney disease.
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Corporate Partners
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Thank you to our Corporate Partners who are dedicated to the enhancement of quality of life and quality of care for all dialysis patients.
> Read More
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