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DPC Hosts Washington, DC Fly-in
Last month, DPC Ambassadors and Board Members traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with their Members of Congress and discuss legislative issues important to the 31 million Americans with chronic kidney disease. Participants from 21 states came to the nation's capital for a multi-day trip that included a congressional briefing, a training session and culminated in a day of meetings on Capitol Hill.
While on Capitol Hill, participants asked their representatives to support the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2011. This is cost-effective, common-sense legislation that will improve the lives of countless kidney transplant patients while using our limited federal resources more effectively. The DPC members also went to their Capitol Hill meetings armed with ways in which the federal government can enact cost-saving measures to improve our nation's fiscal state of affairs and help avoid potential across-the-board cuts to Medicare.
This DPC event was an opportunity for dedicated and passionate Patient Ambassadors and Board Members to meet with their Representatives to address head-on some of the most important issues facing kidney patients.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made it such a successful event.
While on Capitol Hill, participants asked their representatives to support the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2011. This is cost-effective, common-sense legislation that will improve the lives of countless kidney transplant patients while using our limited federal resources more effectively. The DPC members also went to their Capitol Hill meetings armed with ways in which the federal government can enact cost-saving measures to improve our nation's fiscal state of affairs and help avoid potential across-the-board cuts to Medicare.
This DPC event was an opportunity for dedicated and passionate Patient Ambassadors and Board Members to meet with their Representatives to address head-on some of the most important issues facing kidney patients.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made it such a successful event.
US House Introduces Bill to Extend Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients
In September, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2011, legislation that will extend Medicare coverage of anti-rejections drugs for kidney transplant patients beyond the current 36-month limit.
Currently, Medicare does not place a time limit on dialysis coverage after patients receive a kidney transplant; however, anti-rejection drugs for kidney transplant patients are only covered by Medicare for 36 months. This bill will extend the current benefit beyond 36 months and will result in a net savings to Medicare, provide transplantation as an affordable option to more patients and improve patient quality of life by reducing the back and forth from transplant to dialysis. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate earlier this summer.
We urge you to email your Members of Congress asking them to support this critical legislation. You can take action here.
In August, DPC sent a letter to Representatives Michael C. Burgess (R- 26th TX) and Ron Kind (D- 3rd WI), thanking them for their leadership and support of the legislation in advance of its introduction.
Read the full letter here.
Patient Ambassadors Take Their Message to the Media
DPC's Patient Ambassadors are active year round, helping to educate their local communities about the importance of good health and living well with kidney disease. In the past couple of months, several Patient Ambassadors across the country took their message to the media and were highlighted in several outlets.
DPC asks patients to raise public awareness by writing letters to the editor to their local newspapers. On August 25th Patient Ambassador Clifford Van Winkle wrote a letter published in the North County Times Californian (serving San Diego, California and Riverside, California) about the links between high cholesterol and kidney disease in order to educate his community during National High Cholesterol Month. Mississippi Patient Ambassador Flossie Lewis had her letter to the editor published in the Mississippi Press (serving Pascagoula, Mississippi and surrounding areas) on September 14th also regarding National High Cholesterol Month, urging those in her local community who might be at risk to get screened for kidney disease. South Carolina Patient Ambassador James Ravenell had his letter to the editor published in the Times and Democrat (serving Orangeburg, South Carolina) on September 25th in which he highlighted the fact that chronic kidney disease is a serious and growing health problem but that he lives a full and productive life regardless of his diagnosis. Ravenell mentions that it is important to learn more about the risk factors for kidney disease and to properly manage your health to prevent its progression.
A member of our DPC Board of Directors, Carol Thomas of Sacramento, California, was quoted in an Associated Press story about whether dialysis three times per week is sufficient. The article highlighted a new study about the higher health risk dialysis patients face after they go for two days without treatment. Carol noted that she watches her water intake and avoids food high in nutrients that can cause complications like dairy, beans and nuts, on the weekends in between her treatments. She also noted that although it would be an inconvenience to receive dialysis more than the already three times per week, if it would lengthen her life, she would have more treatments.
Oklahoma Patient Ambassador Tom Fossa addressed the members of his local Rotary Club in early August to share his story and to educate his fellow members about chronic kidney disease and was highlighted in the Daily Progress (serving Claremore, Oklahoma). Tom shared how scared and worried he was shortly after his diagnosis but how he has come to be an ambassador at his dialysis facility for new patients, working to ease their minds and give comfort as they begin treatment. He gave the audience statistics on the prevalence of kidney disease and spoke of the various factors that put people at risk of developing kidney disease. Tom also provided information on prevention including regular check-ups with your doctor and monitoring your blood pressure, among other things.
DPC appreciates all the hard work and dedication shown by Patient Ambassadors and looks forward to sharing more of their efforts. If you would like to become involved in our Patient Ambassador program, please visit our website or call us at 1-866-877-4242.
Medicare's Open Enrollment Starts Oct. 15
Every year, people with Medicare have the opportunity to survey available health plan options and chose the plans that work best for them. This year, this Open Enrollment period is starting earlier -- on October 15 -- and ending sooner -- December 7. This will give Medicare beneficiaries a full seven weeks to compare and make decisions, and ensures that they will have essential plan materials and membership cards in hand on January 1, 2012 when new coverage starts.
There'll be a wide range of health and drug plan options available across the country, including Original Medicare. Plans can change from year to year, so these are important choices that should be made with care. People can turn to www.medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or consult with a local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for help.
DPC Continues Work on Health Insurance Exchanges
In September, DPC sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) providing comments on a recently released proposed rule outlining planned regulations for the new health insurance exchanges.
In the letter, DPC urged HHS to ensure CKD and ESRD patients have the same access to private insurance both inside and outside of the exchanges. DPC explained the need to maintain consistent application of the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) law, which permits ESRD patients to keep their private health insurance coverage for 30 months before Medicare becomes the primary payer. Ensuring this protection will mean equal treatment for kidney disease patients and has the potential to save the Medicare program billions over the next ten years. Additionally, DPC advised HHS to ensure that ESRD patients have access to premium credits and cost-sharing subsidies to purchase private coverage through the exchanges, which will make private coverage attainable for more Americans.
DPC also took the opportunity to reiterate its support for including dialysis and kidney transplantation in the essential benefits package required in the new exchanges. Additionally, DPC stated its support for the inclusion of other patient protections, including adequate provider choice, reasonable drive time requirements and regulations to avoid the possibility of dialysis coverage limits in the new exchanges.
Read the full letter here.
In the letter, DPC urged HHS to ensure CKD and ESRD patients have the same access to private insurance both inside and outside of the exchanges. DPC explained the need to maintain consistent application of the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) law, which permits ESRD patients to keep their private health insurance coverage for 30 months before Medicare becomes the primary payer. Ensuring this protection will mean equal treatment for kidney disease patients and has the potential to save the Medicare program billions over the next ten years. Additionally, DPC advised HHS to ensure that ESRD patients have access to premium credits and cost-sharing subsidies to purchase private coverage through the exchanges, which will make private coverage attainable for more Americans.
DPC also took the opportunity to reiterate its support for including dialysis and kidney transplantation in the essential benefits package required in the new exchanges. Additionally, DPC stated its support for the inclusion of other patient protections, including adequate provider choice, reasonable drive time requirements and regulations to avoid the possibility of dialysis coverage limits in the new exchanges.
Read the full letter here.
Jessica Nagro Becomes DPC Director of Public Affairs
This month, DPC staff member Jessica Nagro was promoted to Director of Public Affairs. Jessica previously served at the organization's Communications Manager.
Congratulations Jessica and we look forward to your continued contributions to DPC.
Congratulations Jessica and we look forward to your continued contributions to DPC.