Check out our Patient Ambassador Spotlight, where we highlight members who elevate the voices of people with kidney disease.
This month’s Spotlight is on Stephanie Dixon from Rutherford, New Jersey.
Like many patients, Stephanie’s diagnosis of end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD) came as a shock. One day, she was suddenly rushed to the ER and suddenly had to begin dialysis, the only treatment for ESRD outside of a kidney transplant. Her life changed at that moment and she didn’t know how I was going to keep working and make ends meet while having to do multi-hour dialysis treatments almost every day.
On top of that, she had to deal with figuring out Medicare and Medicaid for her coverage — a complicated and time-consuming burden. Dialysis patients often prefer private insurance because it’s easier to navigate and provides more comprehensive coverage. Many patients don’t even immediately qualify for Medicare or Medicaid and rely instead on private insurance to cover their expenses.
A recent Supreme Court decision empowered private insurers to weaken coverage in the first 30 months of dialysis care though, the crucial time before many patients transition to Medicare. From first-hand experience, Stephanie knows just how crucial it is to have that protection for patients during such a critical time.
That’s why Stephanie is calling on Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. to support the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (H.R. 2199/S. 1173), which would restore private insurance protections for dialysis patients during those first 30 months.
Patient Ambassadors represent DPC by serving as leaders in their community and local dialysis facilities. Learn more about this critical role and make a difference in the lives of dialysis patients by applying for DPC's Patient Ambassador program.
