Hannah Bracamonte, Author at Dialysis Patient Citizens

Statement of Dialysis Patient Citizens on CMS Announcement of Delay in Implementing Star Ratings for Dialysis Facility Compare Website

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:04+00:00September 10th, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Article|

Today, Dialysis Patient Citizens received a notice from CMS announcing a three-month delay in implementing its Star Ratings Program for the Dialysis Facility Compare website. Contrary to CMS’ announcement, a delay alone is not responsive to the concerns expressed by stakeholders and certainly not to those expressed by DPC. While CMS said it was “partnering with the ESRD community,” it has instead declined to consider input on how to design patient-friendly ratings, and ignored DPC’s requests to see consumer testing materials and the geographic distribution of star assignments. We believe that CMS’ methodology which gives thirty percent of dialysis facilities the [...]

DPC Submits Comments on this Year’s Medicare ESRD Payment Rule

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:04+00:00September 4th, 2014|Categories: Article, Dialysis Funding, Quality Incentive Program|

In late August, DPC submitted comments to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on its payment-setting rule for dialysis facilities in 2015. The rule keeps next year’s payments for dialysis level with this year’s, following a mandate from Congress, but makes some changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (“QIP”) that reduces payments to the lowest-performing facilities. Here are highlights of proposed changes along with DPC’s commentary: Patient Satisfaction Survey Scores To Count Toward QIP Payment Reductions: For several years now, dialysis facilities have administered the “CAHPS” survey of patient experience to patients. However, under current regulations, dialysis facilities [...]

DPC Mourns the Loss of Previous Board Members

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:04+00:00September 3rd, 2014|Categories: Article, Board Members|

DPC was saddened to learn of the recent passing of two of our previous board members, Robert (Bob) Mize and William (Bill) Litchfield. Robert Mize was one of three patients who served as a founding board member. He was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the successful advocacy and education programs we produce today. He frequently made trips to Washington, D.C. to elevate the patient voice and his dedication to promoting kidney disease awareness and education will surely be missed. Robert Mize on the steps of the Supreme Court. William Litchfield also served on the board of DPC [...]

DPC to Host Regional Meetings
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DPC to Host Regional Meetings

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:04+00:00September 3rd, 2014|Categories: Article, State Advocacy, Treatment Options|

DPC is excited to announce the beginning of a new program to further engage kidney disease patients through education and advocacy. For the first time ever, DPC is hosting four regional meetings in sites around the country to bring dialysis patients together to engage on issues important to their care and well-being. The inaugural locations for these regional meetings are as follows: Detroit, Michigan; Seattle, Washington; Houston, Texas and New York, New York. We have partnered with the American Psychological Association to provide an informative and engaging session on the importance of having good mental health as a kidney disease [...]

Medicare Agency Under Fire For “Star” Ratings of Health Care Providers

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:04+00:00September 3rd, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Article, Comment Letter, Quality Incentive Program|

Can Dialysis Facilities Be Rated Like Movies and Restaurants? Earlier this year, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to expand its movie critic-style “star” rating system, currently in place for nursing homes and Medicare HMOs, to include dialysis facilities and other health care providers. The controversy began earlier this summer when CMS disclosed the system it had devised to assign star ratings for dialysis facilities. DPC was among the first to speak out and express concern, emphasizing four items in particular: Stars were to be assigned on a “bell curve” grading system, in which thirty percent of [...]

DPC Comments on 2015 Prospective Payment System and QIP

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:04+00:00August 28th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Quality Incentive Program|

DPC Comments on 2015 Prospective Payment System and QIP

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:04+00:00August 28th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Dialysis Funding, Quality Incentive Program|

Hon. Marilyn Tavenner, 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 Re: CMS-1614-P: End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Quality Incentive Program, and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Dear Administrator Tavenner: 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 26,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis [...]

Kidney Patients Join Industry In Opposing CMS’ Dialysis Star Rating System

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:05+00:00August 8th, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Press|

Kidney patients have joined the fight against the Medicare star-rating program for dialysis facilities, and they’re making the same arguments as industry. Patient advocates say that the bell curve nature of the program will confuse patients, especially those in poor areas; the program is inconsistent with the existing dialysis Quality Incentive Program; and CMS should have sought feedback from patients and providers before forcing the program on them

DPC Expresses Concern about Five Star Ratings for Dialysis Facility Compare

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:05+00:00August 7th, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Comment Letter, Quality Incentive Program|

Dialysis Patient Citizens Critical of Dialysis Facility Compare’s Five-Star Rating System

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:05+00:00August 7th, 2014|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Press|

In a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Dialysis Patient Citizens expressed concern about the implementation of Dialysis Facility Compare’s new five-star rating system.

About Hannah Bracamonte

Dialysis Patient Citizens

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