Hannah Bracamonte, Author at Dialysis Patient Citizens

Patients Work on Advocacy at Home During Congressional Recess

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00September 16th, 2015|Categories: Get Involved, State Advocacy, Take Action|

While Congress was in recess during the month of August, DPC Patient Ambassadors used this opportunity to engage their legislators at home. Patient Ambassadors attended meetings with congressional staff, hosted facility tours and wrote letters to the editor in support of The Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act (H.R. 1130, S. 598). Facility tours and meetings took place all across the country. Specifically, Bob L. from Oregon, Kathy S. from Ohio, Jim M. from Indiana and Arthur G. from Pennsylvania hosted their legislators at dialysis facilities and shared their stories to encourage support of the kidney bill. [...]

DPC Comments on 2016 Prospective Payment System and QIP

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00September 16th, 2015|Categories: Comment Letter, Quality Incentive Program|

DPC recently sent a comment letter responding to the proposed payment rule for CMS’s Medicare End Stage Renal Disease program. Using responses from our 2015 Patient Survey, our suggestions focus on how CMS can improve on the key issues of payment and quality for patients. On the payment side, we urge CMS to revise its patient-level payment system by focusing on individuals’ experiences, instead of drawing conclusions based off of large amounts of data. Better support of rural facilities and home dialysis is also important, providing more access and opportunity for treatment. On the quality front, we suggest changes be [...]

RE: CMS-1631-P: Physician Fee Schedule

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00August 25th, 2015|Categories: Comment Letter, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage|

August 25, 2015 Andrew Slavitt, Acting Administrator Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey Building 200 Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Mr. Slavitt, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) appreciates the opportunity to provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with comments on the proposed payment rule for the Medicare End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program. As America’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, DPC’s membership consists of more than 28,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis patients and their families. We seek to ensure the patient point of view is considered by [...]

JAMA Study Examines Obstacles Preventing Kidney Transplants

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00August 14th, 2015|Categories: Access to Transplant, Article|

It is well known that the best treatment for end-stage renal disease patients is a kidney transplant. While there are many health factors that affect a patients’ ability to receive a transplant, a recent study found that only 28 percent of adult patients beginning dialysis were even referred for kidney transplant evaluations. The study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association, examined 15,000 patients within Georgia’s three transplant centers. Referral rates varied from 0% to 75% in some dialysis facilities. Researchers found that facilities with the lowest referral rate were “likely to be nonprofit, hospital-based, have more patients, treat patients [...]

Report Finds Star Rating System Does Not Follow Federal Guidelines

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00August 14th, 2015|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Article, Uncategorized|

The Medicare five-star rating system, maintained by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services’ (CMS), has recently come under scrutiny by the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE). In a letter from last month, CRE officials report that multiple entities have contacted them about the system possibly violating federal regulations. According to the letter, data from the rating system helps in determining rebates, eligibility and bonuses for patients. Current law requires this information be posted on a federal register to receive comments from stakeholders. CRE officials found CMS has instead been posting the information on their website and providing only summaries of comments. [...]

Biosimilar Medication Topic of House Letter to CMS

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00August 14th, 2015|Categories: Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Promote Financial Security|

When the FDA approves a generic drug, it’s based on the chemicals contained in the original brand medication. Congress recently enacted a similar process for the approval of “biosimilars” based on the original biologic medication. The main difference is that the “biosimilar” is approved based on its development process. Biosimilars have the potential to be a cheaper alternative for expensive biologic medications such as Epogen, a drug used for anemia management. A letter sent from the House of Representatives to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) calls attention to a biosimilar reimbursement proposal in CMS’s 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed [...]

Congress Adopts Key Element of Kidney Community Agenda: Clinics May Soon Dialyze Acute Kidney Injury Patients

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00July 16th, 2015|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage|

In passing the President's trade legislation last month, Congress enacted a longtime priority of kidney care advocates: permitting patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) to be treated in dialysis clinics. Under current law, AKI patients may only receive dialysis at hospitals, which is more costly to the Medicare program and less convenient for patients. Congress took this measure from the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act, the comprehensive kidney bill that DPC has supported, so that the Medicare savings could pay for assistance to displaced workers. While DPC does not endorse the use of Medicare savings to offset [...]

DPC Submits Ideas for Improving ESRD Care to Special Senate Task Force

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00July 16th, 2015|Categories: Article, Care Coordination, Medicare Advantage|

Earlier this spring, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee invited stakeholders to submit ideas to improve care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic diseases. DPC submitted its comments on June 22 with a focus on how end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients could benefit from increased care coordination among providers. The Senate Finance Committee oversees the Medicare program and both the current Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and top Democrat Ron Wyden (D-OR) have prioritized improving patient outcomes while lowering costs. They appointed a bipartisan task force to move forward with the best ideas for achieving these goals. DPC's comments stressed that a main barrier [...]

DPC Writes to Montana state official, in support of a proposed rule allowing Medigap open enrollment for Medicare patients under the age of 65 with disabilities or ESRD

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00July 9th, 2015|Categories: Comment Letter, Medigap Coverage, State Advocacy|

Brett O’Neill, Attorney Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Montana State Auditor 840 Helena Ave. Helena, MT 59601 RE: Medicare Supplements – ARM 6.6.507B, .507C, .507E, .511, .511A Dear Mr. O’Neill: As the nation’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life for all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. On behalf of our membership, and particularly on behalf of the over 750 dialysis patients in Montana, we are writing in support of the proposed rule allowing for open enrollment in Medigap plans for Medicare patients under the age [...]

DPC Shares Patient Perspective at Congressional Briefing

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:32+00:00June 11th, 2015|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage|

Kidney Care Partners, in coordination with the Congressional Kidney Caucus, recently hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill to stress the importance of ensuring quality kidney care now and in the future. The briefing featured opening remarks by Kidney Caucus co-chairs, Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), who both emphasized the need for increased awareness and research for kidney care issues. Nancy Scott, DPC Education Center Board President, was on hand to provide the patient's perspective to the attendees. Nancy lives by the mantra "end-stage renal disease does not mean the end of your life—just the [...]

About Hannah Bracamonte

Dialysis Patient Citizens

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