Hannah Bracamonte, Author at Dialysis Patient Citizens

DOPPS Releases Results on Dialysis Trends from 2010-2014

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00February 4th, 2015|Categories: Article, What is Kidney Disease?|Tags: Research|

The Arbor Research Collaborative for Health researches dialysis through their Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), among other programs. The DOPPS Practice Monitor (DPM) recently released trends they observed in dialysis facilities from 2010-2014. Hemoglobin trends The recommended hemoglobin level for a dialysis patient is between 10 – 11 g/dl. From 2010 to 2014, mean hemoglobin (Hgb) levels in dialysis patients declined from 11.5 g/dl to 10.9 g/dl. The percentage of dialysis patients with Hgb under 10 g/dl rose from 8.3% to 19.1%, which is bad news because low Hgb levels make anemia more likely. High Hgb levels increase the [...]

Department of Health & Human Services Announces Pay-for-Performance Goals

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00February 4th, 2015|Categories: Article, Quality Incentive Program|

The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) recently announced goals for shifting the traditional fee-for-service Medicare payment model to a pay-for-performance model. In a pay-for-performance model, payment is based on the quality rather than quantity of care provided. One HHS goal is to tie 30% of fee-for-service Medicare payments to quality through alternative payment models like Accountable Care Organizations or bundled payments by the end of 2016, and 50% by the end of 2018. The dialysis community has a unique history in this area. Dialysis providers did not used to receive an annual update in their Medicare payments, but [...]

Affordable Care Act Enrollment Reaches 9.5 Million as February 15 Deadline Approaches

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00February 4th, 2015|Categories: Promote Financial Security|Tags: Affordable Care Act|

Open enrollment for individual coverage in the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s public health insurance exchanges began in November of last year. The deadline for enrollment is February 15, 2015. So far approximately 9.5 million people have either newly enrolled or re-enrolled in the exchanges, with 7.1 million enrolling in the 37 states that use the federal marketplace, HealthCare.gov. Of those 7.1 million, approximately 6.2 million received financial assistance to help pay for coverage. Also, 4.16 million re-enrolled in health plans, and 3 million selected a plan for the first time. Again, thank you to the patients who have shared stories with [...]

Insights with Jack: Accidental Advocate

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00February 2nd, 2015|Categories: About DPC, Dialysis Funding, Get Involved, Patient's Voice|

By Jack Reynolds, DPC Board Member and Patient Ambassador As it is Ground Hog Day, I thought I would come out of my winter hole and blog once more. March is only four weeks away, and it will be time to visit Washington, D.C. and another chance for Dialysis Patient Citizen Ambassadors to bring our issues and concerns to our elected Congressional Representatives and Senators. Although I have made this journey many times since 2005, I am not a “natural” political advocate; and in fact, if not for a social worker, I may have never become a dialysis citizen at large [...]

Dialysis, ESRD and EEOC
Gallery

Dialysis, ESRD and EEOC

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00February 2nd, 2015|Categories: Patient's Voice|

By Devon Osborne, DPC Board Member and Patient Ambassador Back a couple years ago, I had to sue my employer through the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) for violating my rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Below is some of my experience doing that. In light of the recent posts and comments here and elsewhere, I figured it was time to post about the process I went through with the EEOC and getting my case filed and accepted. Immediately after I got home the fateful day I was terminated, I sat down and wrote out exactly what happened and [...]

DPC’s Jackson Williams Named NAIC Consumer Liaison Representative

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00January 12th, 2015|Categories: Article, Staff|

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a membership organization for the nation’s chief insurance regulators, recently named 30 consumer liaison representatives for 2015. Through these representatives, who are committed to the public interest, consumers can interact with NAIC’s membership, the insurance industry and other interested parties. “Our consumer liaison representatives play an integral part in helping the NAIC and regulators protect U.S. insurance consumers,” said Monica J. Lindeen, NAIC President-Elect and Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. “This partnership program is an important component of our mission to protect the public interest and facilitate the fair and equitable treatment [...]

DPC Joins Patient Groups in Commenting on the Standardized Readmission Ratio for Dialysis Facilities

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00December 22nd, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Quality Incentive Program|

Insights with Jack: Holiday Greetings

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00December 18th, 2014|Categories: Patient's Voice|

By Jack Reynolds, DPC Patient Ambassador and Board Member Seasons come and go, and cold winds blow. Holiday Greetings! Well, I would never have made it as a Hallmark card bard. One of my most vivid recollections of Christmas, which is almost dreamlike now, is lying alone in a hospital room pondering my gloomy fate and thinking about my family and what was going through their minds. The previous day I had met Dr. Condon for the first time, and she had informed me that I had undergone renal failure and from this time on would require treatments on the [...]

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 [...]

About Hannah Bracamonte

Dialysis Patient Citizens

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