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New CO Kidney Bill Signed Into Law

2026-05-28T13:59:41+00:00May 27th, 2026|Categories: Article, News, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

Colorado Governor Jared Polis recently signed House Bill 26-1019, the Kidney Screening Mandatory Preventive Coverage Act, into law. This important legislation adds kidney function screening services as mandated preventive health-care services for which insurance policies in the state must provide total-cost coverage, without cost sharing or co-payments. Coverage for kidney function screening services will be implemented for all large employer health benefit policies issued or renewed in Colorado on or after January 1, 2027, and coverage will be implemented for all individual and small group health benefit plans issued or renewed in the state on or after January 1, 2028. By requiring qualifying health plans to cover [...]

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DPC Gets The Word Out at Detroit Zoo Event

2026-05-28T14:03:58+00:00May 19th, 2026|Categories: Article, Board Members, Get Involved, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, State Advocacy, Uncategorized|

On May 17, DPC participated in the National Kidney Foundation Michigan Kidney Walk at the Detroit Zoo. DPC has been working to advance legislation in the state that would expand Medigap access to dialysis patients under 65 years of age. DPC Board President Quiana Bishop and Policy Committee Chair Alethea Walls – both Michigan residents -- recognized this as a great opportunity to get the word out about DPC and recruit additional advocates in support of our advocacy efforts, as NKF Michigan estimated more than 3,000 registered walkers for the event. Michigan Patient Ambassador Gwendolyn Martinez and DPC Eastern Region [...]

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DPC Statement on Medicaid

2026-05-19T14:17:16+00:00May 18th, 2026|Categories: Article, Medicaid, News, Promote Financial Security|

May 18, 2026 Medicaid is not just a line item in a budget, it is a foundational pillar of health, dignity, and economic security for millions of Americans. It is a lifeline for our most vulnerable neighbors, including children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and working families who deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare. Any attempt to cut, cap, or eliminate Medicaid funding is a direct threat to the well-being of our communities. Slashing this vital program doesn't reduce the need for healthcare; it simply shifts the burden. It forces families into devastating medical debt, strains local state budgets, and threatens the [...]

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At Last, A Shorter Patient Experience Survey Comes Out This Spring!

2026-04-20T15:03:09+00:00April 20th, 2026|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, News|

By Alethea Walls, DPC Board of Directors Medicare’s In-Center Hemodialysis CAHPS (ICH CAHPS) Survey is one of the most meaningful tools patients have to share their experiences and influence improvements in dialysis care. We’re pleased to report that beginning with the next survey round, the questionnaire has been shortened to 39 questions, reducing the length of the old survey by 23 questions. For years, DPC has pointed out to Medicare officials the burden to dialysis patients of this survey. When Medicare surveys health plan enrollees or hospital patients about their satisfaction, they are able to use small samples of large populations. [...]

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Federal Court Strikes Down Attempt to Abolish Charitable Premium Assistance for Dialysis Patients

2026-04-20T15:00:27+00:00April 14th, 2026|Categories: Article, Charitable Premium Assistance, Legal Defense, News, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care|

Several years ago, at the behest of the SEIU labor union, the California legislature passed Assembly Bill 290 (AB 290), a bill intended to abolish charitable premium assistance for dialysis patients. In an April 7, 2026, decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck down major provisions of AB 290. The court ruled that the law violated the First Amendment rights of dialysis providers and the American Kidney Fund (AKF), a nonprofit charity. The Ninth Circuit found that AB 290's primary provisions unconstitutionally burdened the right of expressive association. The court struck down the provision that capped reimbursement [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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