Health Care Reform Update

November was a big month for health care reform developments. On the evening of Saturday, November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of health care reform legislation with a vote of 220 to 215.  Following on Wednesday, November 18, U.S. Senate leaders unveiled their version of health care legislation which is expected to be voted on in December. 

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CMS Needs to Hear from You

Changes to Medicare will impact the care dialysis patients receive. The administrators of Medicare need to hear from you.

As you may be aware, Congress has required the administrators of Medicare to reimburse dialysis facilities for administering treatments, medications and laboratory tests into one payment.  Many patients are unsure of how, or if, this will change the care they receive or their access to care.  However, there are many changes proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that, if implemented, will change how patient care is provided.  Additionally, in the proposed rule there are some areas that are unclear on how they will impact patients.    

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DPC Welcomes New Board Member

Dialysis Patient Citizens is pleased to announce the addition of a new board member – Martin Wienshienk of Scottsdale, Arizona.  Martin comes to the board as a kidney transplant recipient and brings with him a wealth of experience in the kidney care environment where he has worked to educate others on the issues and difficulties that dialysis patients sometimes face. 

“Dialysis Patient Citizens is pleased to welcome Martin Wienshienk to our Board of Directors, where he will bring valuable experiences and insights into enhancing education, awareness and quality kidney care,” said DPC Executive Director Chad Lennox.  “We look forward to working with Martin and are inspired by his continued support, work and service to the kidney community.”

Martin, a retired mathematician and engineer of almost 50 years, received a kidney transplant in April 2009 after five years on dialysis. Although he no longer requires dialysis treatment, he continues to be a tireless advocate for enhancing kidney care in Arizona and across the nation.  Martin has served as a patient member of the Medical Review Board for ESRD Network 15, developed education materials for dialysis patients, served as chair for a local patient support group, and assisted other ESRD organizations in developing comments regarding key legislation.

Whereas medically trained doctors and staff can provide the necessary medical treatment for people with ESRD, as a former dialysis patient, Martin is able to provide patients with an empathetic ear and non-medical advice on how to get along in life based on his own experience. His recent transplant has not dampened his desire to provide support for those still undergoing dialysis.

“I am honored that I have been selected to help patients with kidney disease in Arizona and nationwide by serving on the DPC Board of Directors,” says Martin. “I look forward to working with fellow members to ease the life of those afflicted with ESRD as well as to help others avoid kidney failure and the need for ESRD treatment.”

Martin has been married for over 40 years and has two children and four grandchildren. 

Dialysis and Vaccinations

Kidney disease is one of several conditions that can put a person at higher risk for infection.  This means that those with kidney failure may need to receive more shots, or higher doses, of vaccines to assure protection. 

Types of immunizations and vaccines recommended for people on dialysis and those with chronic kidney disease who have not yet started dialysis include:

- Hepatitis B vaccine

- Flu shot to protect against influenza

- The pneumococcal vaccine called PPV23

Special dialysis populations:

Anyone who has received a bone marrow, kidney or liver transplant is at increased risk for a virus called Rotovirus.  This can lead to very serious illness, so this group should receive the Rotovirus vaccine. 

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