FacebookXYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

Improving Kidney Health Hearing

2026-03-25T18:42:19+00:00March 25th, 2026|Categories: Article, Increase Quality of Care, Innovation, News, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care|

Last week, The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on “Improving Kidney Health Through Better Prevention and Innovative Treatment”. Witnesses included Ashli Littleton, a 36-year-old Medicare beneficiary with ESRD; Suzanne Watnick, MD FASN, a nephrologist and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology at the University of Washington; Robert Taylor, MD, a nephrologist and Chief Medical Officer of Dialysis Clinic, Inc.; and John Butler, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akebia since 2013. During the hearing, the witnesses and Members of Congress highlighted many of the struggles ESRD patients face and the need for more innovation [...]

Read More

Support S.1552/H.R. 4583 – The Living Donor Protection Act

2026-02-26T14:36:14+00:00February 25th, 2026|Categories: Access to Transplant, Advance Patient Choice, Article, Protect Patient Care, Take Action, Transplant Donor Protection|

This week, The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) will be marking up S. 1552 – The Living Donor Protection Act introduced by Senators Tom Cotton (R‑AR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D‑NY).  This bill, and its’ House companion bill H.R. 4583, provides essential protections for living kidney donors, including job security, protection from insurance discrimination, and the financial burdens associated with transplantation. Specifically, The Living Donor Protection Act would: Prohibit life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donors. Amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically include [...]

Read More

One Week Left to Apply – 2026 Advocacy Day

2026-01-21T19:32:39+00:00January 21st, 2026|Categories: Article, Get Involved, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Policy Issues, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care|

Applications for DPC’s 2026 Advocacy Day are due next Friday, January 30th! Be sure to submit your application for a chance to come to Washington, D.C., June 29 – 30, 2026, and speak with your members of Congress about important pieces of legislation that will help improve the lives of kidney patients. Participants will be selected based on the quality of their application, legislative priorities, and previous involvement in DPC's advocacy efforts. We will hold a training session ahead of our advocacy day for those participating to explain the process and review the legislation. If you are interested, please complete the [...]

Read More

Open Enrollment Deadlines for Texas Dialysis Patients

2026-01-21T19:35:03+00:00January 12th, 2026|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, State Advocacy|

In a major victory for under age 65 Texans living on dialysis, House Bill 2516 became law in 2025. HB 2516 provides access for under-age 65 dialysis patients to purchase affordable Medigap insurance plans A, B and D at the same premium rate as those who are age 65. The remaining Medigap lettered plans are available at 200% of the age 65 premium. This legislation impacts not only individuals who have just started dialysis and enrolled in Medicare Part B, but it also includes a one-time, 6-month open enrollment window for dialysis patients who are already enrolled in Medicare Part B. This [...]

Read More

Urge Your Members of Congress to Cosponsor H.R. 2199/S. 1173 – The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act

2026-02-18T21:00:25+00:00January 5th, 2026|Categories: Article, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Take Action|

Last year, The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act was introduced by Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Neal Dunn, MD (R-FL), Danny Davis (D-IL), John Joyce, MD (R-PA) and Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA) as well as Senators Bill Cassidy MD (R-LA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).  This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would restore protections for ESRD patients and allow them to stay on the insurance coverage of their choice for up to 30 months.  While all ESRD patients are eligible for Medicare, allowing a patient to choose to stay on their private insurance would [...]

Read More

Happy Holidays from DPC

2025-12-19T15:24:33+00:00December 18th, 2025|Categories: Article, News|

On behalf of the Board, Staff, and Volunteers at DPC, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy holiday season, as well as a safe and healthy New Year. DPC offices will be closed for the holidays starting December 24 through January 2. We also want to take a moment to share our 2025 Year in Review, which would not have been possible without your continued support. Thank you again for helping us elevate the dialysis patient voice with policy makers. We are extremely grateful for all of your advocacy efforts, and we [...]

Read More

Giving Thanks

2025-11-25T18:09:52+00:00November 25th, 2025|Categories: About DPC, Advance Patient Choice, Article, Dialysis Funding, Get Involved, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Innovation, News, Patient Ambassadors, Patient's Voice, Policy Issues, Press, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, Treatment Options|

As we approach Thanksgiving this week, DPC would like to take a moment to thank all of our phenomenal Board Members, Patient Ambassadors, and kidney advocates for sharing their stories and fighting to improve the quality of life for dialysis and kidney transplant patients nationwide. DPC Board Members Hasan Artharee and Ken Stephens recently shared videos on their kidney journeys and two important pieces of legislation that are currently in Congress that would have a major impact on patient quality of life. As a fourth-generation PKD patient and the third in his family to undergo dialysis, Hasan knows firsthand the challenges [...]

Read More

Upcoming Open Enrollment Deadlines for Nevada Dialysis Patients

2025-10-29T18:34:36+00:00October 29th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

In a major victory for under age 65 Nevadans living on dialysis, Senate Bill 292 became law earlier this year. SB 292 provides access for under-age 65 dialysis patients to purchase affordable Medigap insurance plans A, B and D at the same premium rate as those who are age 65. The remaining Medigap lettered plans are available at 200% of the age 65 premium. This legislation impacts not only individuals who have just started dialysis and enrolled in Medicare Part B, but it also includes a one-time, 6-month open enrollment window for dialysis patients who are already enrolled in Medicare Part [...]

Read More

Ongoing Government Shutdown

2025-10-29T14:39:54+00:00October 6th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, News, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care|

The federal government is currently shut down due to a spending impasse in Congress over extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and restoring Medicaid cuts in H.R.1, the reconciliation bill passed in July. It is unclear how long the shutdown will last.  The shutdown halts many of the federal government’s “nonessential” functions, but your benefits under entitlement programs such as Medicaid and Medicare continue. According to communications from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) sent to patient advocates (10/1/25), 1-800-MEDICARE will continue to operate as usual. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) should be able to continue their regular program activities but designated [...]

Read More

Support S. 2730 – The Kidney Care Access Protection Act

2025-09-23T17:46:01+00:00September 23rd, 2025|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, News, Promote Financial Security, Take Action|

In early September, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced The Kidney Care Access Protection Act (S. 2730) which would strengthen Medicare’s kidney care benefits by ensuring fair reimbursement for and access to quality care. This bipartisan legislation has been endorsed by Kidney Care Partners, the American Kidney Fund, Dialysis Patient Citizens, and the Renal Support Network (RSN). Specifically, this bill would establish a long-term, sustainable Medicare payment pathway for innovative drugs, devices, and technologies. It would also implement a forecast error adjustment policy that accurately accounts for inflationary costs to help keep healthcare facilities financially viable. [...]

Read More
Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top