Hannah Bracamonte, Author at Dialysis Patient Citizens

Dialysis Facility Compare Star Ratings Draw First Challenge to CMS Quality Measures Under Data Quality Act

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00December 16th, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Press Release|

Skewed geographic distribution of star ratings demonstrates program’s flaws, says Dialysis Patient Citizens WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 16, 2014) — Dialysis Patient Citizens has filed the first challenge to a CMS quality program under the Data Quality Act, contending that the agency’s Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC) star ratings methodology fails to satisfy federal requirements for objectivity and utility in presenting information to the public. The day after being served with the complaint, CMS conceded it should have conducted cognitive testing of this system on consumers, reversing a position the agency had defended for nearly four months. “We felt this challenge was necessary in light of CMS’ continued refusal to [...]

A Strong Voice for Dialysis Patients

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00December 8th, 2014|Categories: Article, Get Involved|

With the gridlock in Congress reaching new heights, it is more important now than ever for dialysis patients to have a strong voice in policymaking. DPC is well-equipped to serve as that voice since it is a patient-led organization (the Board of Directors consists entirely of patients). Joining DPC means you are serious about improving the quality of care for dialysis patients, and sends a signal to legislators that this will be on the top of your mind when you go to the ballot box in November. They know that if they pass legislation favorable to patients, they will be more [...]

DPC’s Request for Correction complaint to CMS Regarding DFC Star Ratings

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00December 2nd, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Comment Letter|

Attached is CCSQ’s courtesy copy of the Request for Correction we filed today under the Data Quality Act challenging the methodology to be used in the DFC Star Ratings. The Data Quality Act and the HHS Information Quality Guidelines promulgated pursuant to the Act have been in existence for approximately as long as CMS has collected and reported quality measures. Over the past decade, no stakeholder has ever filed a Request for Correction with CMS pertaining to quality measurements. We take no joy in being the first, but we feel that the circumstances surrounding the formulation of this program—the lack of [...]

Insights with Jack: Reflections on Thanksgiving

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00November 22nd, 2014|Categories: Patient's Voice|

By Jack Reynolds, DPC Board Member and Patient Ambassador My Grandma Mae lived to be 96 and she had a saying, “One has to learn how to suffer." I think what she really meant was that a person must learn how to handle or manage their suffering whether it be physical, mental, or emotional. Over time most ESRD patients are confronted with a host of these challenges or sufferings. Frankly, I have been spared many of the hospitalizations and complications that many dialysis patients experience. For example, I have a right lower-arm fistula that I have used as my dialysis access [...]

Prior Authorization of Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation to Begin for Dialysis Patients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00November 13th, 2014|Categories: State Advocacy, Transportation Services|

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin implementing a prior authorization demonstration program for non-emergent ambulance transport of dialysis patients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. CMS believes using a prior authorization process will help ensure services are provided in compliance with Medicare coverage rules, specifically that ambulance providers in those states must obtain documentation from physicians prior to the beginning of service. The requirement does not apply to hospital-based ambulances. CMS is taking these actions in response to instances of fraud in those three states. For example, one Pennsylvania fraud scheme involved more than $3.6 [...]

Election Results Shouldn’t Affect ESRD Program, But New Members of Congress Need to be Educated on Medicare’s Role

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:35+00:00November 13th, 2014|Categories: Article, Take Action|

Republicans gained control of the U.S. Senate in last week's elections, but this change is not expected to affect Congressional policymaking on dialysis issues. While some health care issues involve contentious partisan bickering, historically the nuts-and-bolts, day-to-day operations of the Medicare program have been managed on a bipartisan basis by Congress' professional staff members, overseen by Congressional committee chairs with expertise on Medicare. What will be different is that many new Members of Congress will take office in January who do not have experience with Medicare or ESRD issues. At least five new Senators and fifty new House Members will take [...]

New Dialysis Quality Rules May Bring Small but Noticeable Changes to Your Care

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:35+00:00November 13th, 2014|Categories: Article, Quality Incentive Program|

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently finalized the payment rule for the Medicare End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program for 2015. Payment rates will stay the same next year. However, changes to the Quality Improvement Program (QIP) system of "pay for performance" are intended to prioritize new aspects of care for ESRD patients; providers are graded on each element of the "QIP" and receive payment reductions if they don't meet Medicare's standard. This means that providers are expected to add emphasis to these new areas in their interactions with patients. Here are some of the new areas being [...]

Insights with Jack: Who Do You Rely On?

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:35+00:00October 2nd, 2014|Categories: Patient's Voice|

By Jack Reynolds, DPC Board Member and Patient Ambassador This Christmas of 2014, I will have completed four decades of in-center hemodialysis. As this amount of time surviving with a kidney machine as a life partner is fairly rare, I feel that it would be a good idea to discuss or maybe vent my soul about my experience as a dialysis citizen and how it has affected my outlook on life. I plan to keep my blogs fairly short and to only touch on one or two points of interest or boredom, as the case may be, for anyone who reads [...]

CMS Responses to Questions and Comments about the Dialysis Facility Compare Star Rating System

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:35+00:00October 1st, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Comment Letter|

CMS thanks the community for their comments and questions about the DFC Star Rating System. All comments have been given serious consideration. This document provides responses to the questions and issues raised by the ESRD community. CMS believes that the Star Rating System will empower consumers with additional quality information. It will also encourage providers to continuously achieve higher quality care. With future releases and enhancements to the DFC website, we will continue fostering an open dialogue to facilitate providing better care for all patients receiving chronic dialysis. We look forward to working with the ESRD community over the coming months [...]

Response Memo: FAQs Regarding Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:35+00:00September 24th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Promote Financial Security|Tags: Health Insurance Exchange|

To: James Canavan, Center for Medicare, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Spencer Manasse, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, CMS Vicki Gottlich, Administration for Community Living Gene Coffey, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services, CMS Janet Miller, Office of Communications, CMS Sharon Donovan, Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office, CMS Re: Comments on “Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Medicare and the Marketplace” We appreciate that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) arranged a July meeting for beneficiary advocates to discuss our questions and concerns related to beneficiary transitions from coverage options created under [...]

About Hannah Bracamonte

Dialysis Patient Citizens

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