Improve Access to Care Archives - Page 7 of 17

Dialysis Patient Citizens Commends Introduction of the BETTER Kidney Care Act
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Dialysis Patient Citizens Commends Introduction of the BETTER Kidney Care Act

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:02+00:00September 16th, 2020|Categories: Care Coordination, Press Release|

WASHINGTON, D.C., (September 16, 2020) -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) today applauded introduction of the BETTER Kidney Care Act (H.R. 8254/S. 4574) by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) along with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Jason Smith (R-MO-8). This bill would enhance access to care coordination services for thousands of patients across the United States currently living with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). "We applaud Senators Young and Sinema along with Representatives Blumenauer and Smith for introducing the BETTER Kidney Care Act. We are grateful for their continued leadership and efforts to improve the lives of Americans who suffer from kidney disease," said DPC Board President [...]

DPC Comments on CMS Proposed ESRD Annual Payment Rule to Increase Dialysis Patient Quality Care
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DPC Comments on CMS Proposed ESRD Annual Payment Rule to Increase Dialysis Patient Quality Care

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:03+00:00September 1st, 2020|Categories: Access to Transplant, Care Coordination, Comment Letter, Innovation, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Quality Incentive Program, Treatment Options|

Each year—typically during the summer—the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) puts out rules for how they are going to pay for dialysis treatment. The rules reflect CMS’ latest policies, and organizations have the opportunity to provide feedback about the rules before they go into effect on January 1. DPC provided feedback to CMS regarding their End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Annual Payment rule. DPC’s letter addresses the following important topics for improving ESRD patient care: Protect Access for Costlier Patients by Completing Reconsideration of Case-Mix Adjusters Protect Access for Patients in Disadvantaged Regions by Addressing Social Risk Factors Focus [...]

The Coronavirus Outbreak Puts Dialysis Patients At Risk
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The Coronavirus Outbreak Puts Dialysis Patients At Risk

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:03+00:00August 14th, 2020|Categories: Care Coordination, Patient's Voice, Spotlight|Tags: COVID-19|

Jeff Needham turned his lifestyle around with diet and exercise after he was diagnosed with kidney disease. A true inspiration, Needham competed in two Olympic distance triathlon relays, as well as a three-day, 230-mile cycling ride, in support of a better health care system. In addition, Needham warns about the increased dangers of COVID-19 for dialysis patients and highlights the benefits of participating in a coordinated care pilot program.

DPC’s 2020 Annual Membership Survey is Live!
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DPC’s 2020 Annual Membership Survey is Live!

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:03+00:00August 6th, 2020|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, Access to Transplant, Article, Care Coordination, Charitable Premium Assistance, Dental Coverage, Dialysis Funding, Get Involved, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage, Innovation, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Quality Incentive Program, Take Action, Transplant Donor Protection, Transportation Services, Treatment Options|Tags: COVID-19|

Elevate the Voice of Patients with Kidney Disease and Their Caregivers Our 2020 Annual Membership Survey is live, and it will remain open until Friday, August 21. We are counting on your participation, as patient feedback helps to shape our public policy agenda and patient education priorities for the next year. This year we ask that both patients and caregivers take our survey. Rest assured your responses will remain completely anonymous. We only share the overall survey results with state and federal level policy makers, so they will better understand your needs, experiences, and preferences. Your feedback is crucial. Therefore, we will [...]

Care Coordination Fixes One of the Biggest Flaws in the American Health Care System
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Care Coordination Fixes One of the Biggest Flaws in the American Health Care System

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:04+00:00July 20th, 2020|Categories: Care Coordination, Patient's Voice, Spotlight|

Gloria Rohrer lost a leg after needing multiple surgeries when her kidney transplant failed. Rohrer later lost her eyesight in one eye while vacationing in Florida, which could have been avoided with proper care coordination. She could have shut down and become angry with the world, instead Rohrer became a stalwart advocate for patient access to care coordination services, so that others can avoid similar complications.

Dialysis Patient Citizens Files Lawsuit Against HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma Over New Regulation That Undercuts Dialysis Patient Access to Affordable, High-Quality Care
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Dialysis Patient Citizens Files Lawsuit Against HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma Over New Regulation That Undercuts Dialysis Patient Access to Affordable, High-Quality Care

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:04+00:00June 22nd, 2020|Categories: Care Coordination, Legal Defense, Medicare Advantage, News, Press Release|

WASHINGTON, D.C., (June 22, 2020) -- Today, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in opposition to a discriminatory new federal regulation that will limit the ability of hundreds of thousands of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients to access affordable, high quality treatment. “ESRD patients successfully fought to get Congress to pass bipartisan legislation that would ensure [...]

Visit the New Kidney Care Matters Site to Find Out What You Can do to Help Dialysis Patients
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Visit the New Kidney Care Matters Site to Find Out What You Can do to Help Dialysis Patients

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:05+00:00May 22nd, 2020|Categories: Article, Care Coordination, Policy Issues|

Dialysis Patient Citizens is excited to announce that the new Kidney Care Matters website is live. This initiative, led by DPC, is focused on promoting better kidney care through care coordination for people with End-Stage Renal Disease. Coordinated care means that all health care providers serving a patient share information with each other in a timely manner about the patient’s health, treatments prescribed, and care delivered. Well-structured care coordination has the potential to provide a more focused, dedicated care management approach that would streamline care, improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Kidney Care Matters is dedicated to providing patients [...]

Patient Advocates Raising Awareness Through Letters to the Editor
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Patient Advocates Raising Awareness Through Letters to the Editor

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:05+00:00May 20th, 2020|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Care Coordination, Press|

Dialysis Patient Citizens takes great pride in the work that our patient ambassadors are doing each and every day in their communities and local dialysis facilities. Through providing additional education and access to resources for fellow dialysis patients, they help to make a difference in the lives of patients and encourage them to be their own advocates. One of the ways our ambassadors are making their voices heard are through letters to the editor, where they write and submit a letter to the editor to his/her local newspaper about a kidney disease issue and/or the importance of advocating for better [...]

ESRD Network – Your Resource for Access to Care
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ESRD Network – Your Resource for Access to Care

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:05+00:00April 27th, 2020|Categories: Article, Improve Access to Care, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, News, Transportation Services|

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which is the federal Agency that oversees the Medicare program, recently reiterated its commitment to ensuring dialysis patient access to care during the current pandemic. They said that if any dialysis patients are having problems with transportation, that prevent you from getting to dialysis, they want to help. CMS also knows that your dialysis access is your lifeline, so if you have any complications with your fistula, graft or catheter and need help – that is why they created the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network Program – to help patients. So, [...]

Sign the Petition to Support Integrated Care for Dialysis Patients
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Sign the Petition to Support Integrated Care for Dialysis Patients

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:05+00:00April 23rd, 2020|Categories: Improve Access to Care, Take Action|

We are pleased to report that Congress is working on draft legislation—known as the BETTER Kidney Care Act—to expand care coordination opportunities for dialysis patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has put the health of kidney disease patients at risk more than ever before, while also demonstrating the many challenges to ensuring their continuity of their care. Show your support for improving the lives of dialysis patients during this unprecedented time by signing our on-line petition to increase dialysis patient access to care coordination, then urge Congress to enact the BETTER Kidney Care Act. Sign the petition>> The Importance of Care Coordination [...]

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