Protect Patient Care Archives - Page 12 of 13

Prior Authorization of Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation to Begin for Dialysis Patients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:50:34+00:00November 13th, 2014|Categories: State Advocacy, Transportation Services|

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin implementing a prior authorization demonstration program for non-emergent ambulance transport of dialysis patients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. CMS believes using a prior authorization process will help ensure services are provided in compliance with Medicare coverage rules, specifically that ambulance providers in those states must obtain documentation from physicians prior to the beginning of service. The requirement does not apply to hospital-based ambulances. CMS is taking these actions in response to instances of fraud in those three states. For example, one Pennsylvania fraud scheme involved more than $3.6 [...]

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 [...]

Kidney Community Rallies for Key Victory in Louisiana
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Kidney Community Rallies for Key Victory in Louisiana

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:05+00:00June 3rd, 2014|Categories: Article, Charitable Premium Assistance, State Advocacy|

Recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield stopped accepting third party payments for medical premiums in the new health exchanges. This meant that dialysis patients in the state of Louisiana could not use financial assistance from organizations such as the American Kidney Fund (AKF) to subsidize their premium costs. Nearly 2,000 low-income Louisiana dialysis patients rely on help from assistance organizations to maintain their access to health insurance. For people with kidney failure, the out-of-pocket treatment costs are very high, and it is particularly challenging for a person on dialysis to remain employed because of the frequent treatment schedule (typically three times [...]

Medicare Ambulance Fraud in Los Angeles – A Specific Example

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:05+00:00May 7th, 2014|Categories: Article, State Advocacy, Uncategorized|

The owners of Alpha Ambulance Inc. (Alpha), a now-defunct Los Angeles-area ambulance transportation company, have been sentenced in connection with a Medicare fraud scheme. Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California, Special Agent in Charge Glenn R. Ferry of the Los Angeles Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Assistant Director in Charge Bill L. Lewis of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement. Aleksey Muratov, aka Russ Muratov, 32, and Alex [...]

Re: Support for S.B. 403

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:06+00:00May 1st, 2014|Categories: Charitable Premium Assistance, Comment Letter, State Advocacy|

Louisiana House Insurance Committee 900 North Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70804 Re: Support for S.B. 403 Dear Chairman Cromer and Committee, As America’s largest patient-led organization representing over 27,000 members, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life of all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. Today we are writing on behalf of the over 6,000 dialysis patients in Louisiana to support S.B. 403, which allows third-party payments for premiums. BlueCross Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) recently instituted a new policy of no longer accepting thirdparty payments for premiums. We believe this policy is detrimental to [...]

Re: Discrimination Against Dialysis Patients by BlueCross Blue Shield of Louisiana

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:06+00:00April 8th, 2014|Categories: Charitable Premium Assistance, Comment Letter, State Advocacy|Tags: Health Insurance Exchange|

Phyllis Borzi, Assistant Secretary Employee Benefits Security Administration Department of Labor Washington, DC John P. Albert, Director Division of Medicare Secondary Payer Policy Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Baltimore, MD Re: Discrimination against dialysis patients by BlueCross Blue Shield of Louisiana Dear Ms. Borzi and Mr. Albert: As America’s largest patient-led organization representing over 27,000 members, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life of all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. Today we are writing on behalf of the over 6,000 dialysis patients in Louisiana to request inquiries into the new BlueCross Blue Shield of [...]

DPC Thanks Texas for Allowing ESRD Patients to Purchase Medigap Plans

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:07+00:00January 27th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Medigap Coverage, State Advocacy|

Ms. Sara Waitt, General Counsel Texas Department of Insurance P.O. Box 149104 Austin, TX 78714-9104 Re: Minimum Standards for Medicare Supplement Policies Dear Ms. Waitt, As America’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life of all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. Today we are writing on behalf of over 37,000 dialysis patients in Texas, specifically those who use the Texas Health Insurance Pool for supplemental insurance. We would like to express our gratitude for the recent decision to extend an additional two-month guaranteed issue period from the date of [...]

DPC Thanks California for Reinstating Nutritional Supplement Coverage

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:07+00:00January 8th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, State Advocacy|

Ms. Pilar Williams, Chief Medical Supplies & Enteral Nutrition Benefits Branch, Pharmacy Benefits Division California Department of Health Care Services P. O. Box 997413, MS 4604 Sacramento, CA 95899-7413 Re: Proposed Policy Changes to Medi-Cal Enternal Nutrition Products Benefit Dear Ms. Williams, On behalf of the more than 50,000 people on dialysis in California, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) would like to thank you and the state of California for restoring Medi-Cal coverage of enteral nutritional supplements for dialysis patients. With 30,000 members nationwide, DPC works to improve the quality of life of all kidney patients. Access to medically necessary oral [...]

California Medicaid Coverage for Nutritional Supplements Restored
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California Medicaid Coverage for Nutritional Supplements Restored

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:57+00:00July 19th, 2013|Categories: Article, Improve Access to Care, State Advocacy|

The recently-signed 2013-2014 California budget included a full restoration of Medi-Cal coverage for nutritional supplements for dialysis patients. This change will take effect May 1, 2014. Dialysis patients require access to quality care including physician visits, prescription medication, dialysis treatments and a proper nutritional regimen in order to maintain their health and avoid hospitalization. DPC is pleased to see this coverage restored for California's 53,000 dialysis patients.

DPC Thanks South Carolina Senator for his Support in Extending Medigap Coverage to Medicare Patients

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T02:08:58+00:00April 3rd, 2013|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, Medigap Coverage, State Advocacy|

The Honorable Harvey S. Peeler Jr. 213 Gressette Building Columbia, SC 29201 Dear Senator Peeler, As the nation’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life for all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. On behalf of our membership, and particularly on behalf of the over 7,800 dialysis patients in South Carolina, we are writing today to thank you for introducing legislation to extend Medigap coverage to Medicare patients under the age of 65 with disabilities or end stage renal disease (ESRD). Once enacted, your legislation will help countless patients pay [...]

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