DPC E-Newsletter – November 2024: Thankful for Our Advocates, Native American Heritage Month, & PA Spotlight

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November 26, 2024

DPC Gives Thanks to All Our Amazing Advocates

DPC would like to give thanks to our many patient advocates, family members, friends, coalition partners, legislative champions, healthcare partners, and countless supporters for your dedicated commitment and collaboration over the past 20 years. We are grateful for everything you do to help elevate the patient voice with policy makers.

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving celebration.

Native American Heritage Month

Native Americans have the highest diabetes prevalence in the U.S., which is the leading cause of kidney disease; they are two times more likely to develop kidney failure compared to white Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Because people in the early stages of kidney failure often experience few or no symptoms, it’s important to get regular screenings, especially if you have a family history of diabetes or are at risk for diabetes. An early diagnosis and treatment plan can help preserve kidney function for longer and delay the need for dialysis.

Curtis Warfield

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 Curtis Warfield from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Curtis was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2012 and began peritoneal dialysis in 2014. Though it was a very difficult time for him, he was really grateful to be able to continue working, which meant that he was able to keep his private insurance coverage. Even though Medicare became his primary plan, his private insurance was able to cover the 20% cost that Medicare did not and broadened his access to medications and treatments.

This isn’t the case for most patients though, as they are usually not well enough to keep working and rely fully on public assistance. This means that, in states without an affordable Medigap plan to supplement Medicare, patients are on the hook for the 20% not covered, resulting in thousands of dollars they have to come up with cover the costs of their live saving treatments.

Traditionally, private insurance companies covered dialysis treatment 30 months after beginning treatment, offering patients better options upon diagnosis and allowing time to plan to pay the 20%. However, a recent Supreme Court decision made it easier for private insurers to weaken coverage for new dialysis patients, pushing them onto Medicare prematurely and imposing medical and financial hurdles in the process.

The Restore Protection for Dialysis Patients Act (H.R. 6860/ S. 5018) will ensure patients can keep their private insurance in this 30-month window. Curtis is calling his representatives in Congress to support this legislation and help kidney patients nationwide by passing this bill.

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.

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Each month, DPC ‘and the DPC Education Center publish stories and articles designed to keep patients and their families informed and provide resources for living well with kidney disease. Sign up to receive the Education Center’s newsletter on the 2^nd Thursday of the month and DPC’s newsletter on the 4^th Thursday of the month, straight to your inbox.

DPC E-Newsletter – November 2024: Thankful for Our Advocates, Native American Heritage Month, & PA Spotlight

DPC Gives Thanks to All Our Amazing Advocates

Native American Heritage Month

Patient Ambassador Spotlight:

Curtis Warfield

Signup for our E-Newsletter

Dialysis Patient Citizens

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