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About Hannah Bracamonte

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So far Hannah Bracamonte has created 632 blog entries.

DPC Welcomes New Digital Marketing and Social Media Manager – Megan Leonard

2025-01-23T17:59:29+00:00January 23rd, 2025|Categories: About DPC, Staff|

Megan Leonard is the Digital Marketing & Social Media Manager at Dialysis Patient Citizens, where she applies her digital communications expertise to enhance the organization’s visibility and engagement. Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences from the University of Alabama (2020) and a Master of Science in Communication from Lasell University (2021). Before joining Dialysis Patient Citizens, Megan gained valuable experience managing social media and digital communications for a health care professional association, where she crafted strategies to boost online presence and foster community engagement. At Dialysis Patient Citizens, Megan is passionate about utilizing digital platforms to [...]

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Dialysis Patient Citizens Mourns the Passing of Former Board Member Erich Ditschman

2025-01-14T17:53:48+00:00January 14th, 2025|Categories: Article|

It is with a heavy heart that DPC Board, staff, and volunteers learned of the unexpected passing of one of our former Board Members, Erich Ditschman, on January 1, 2025. Erich was originally from Nyak, New York, but later moved to Michigan where he met his wife, completed both his undergraduate and master’s degrees, and raised his family. Advocacy was always at the heart of what Erich did – first as an environmental scientist advocating for river and watershed resources, then as a patient advocate for kidney disease after receiving a diagnosis of end stage renal disease in 2001. Erich joined [...]

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California Resources

2025-01-23T17:55:22+00:00January 9th, 2025|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Policy Issues, Promote Financial Security, State Advocacy|

As the wildfires continue to profoundly affect communities in the Los Angeles area, Dialysis Patient Citizens extends its heartfelt support to all who are impacted by this devastating crisis. Thousands of structures have been affected, over 200,000 residents have been displaced, and to date, at least 27 people have lost their lives. Government officials, including Governor Newsom, have issued emergency declarations as the fires intensified, allowing for rapid deployment of resources to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. While some of you may not live in the immediate area of the wildfires, we understand that many of you may work, travel, [...]

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DPC Gives Thanks to All Our Amazing Advocates

2024-11-26T14:49:33+00:00November 26th, 2024|Categories: Article, Patient Ambassadors|

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.

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Native American Heritage Month

2024-11-26T14:42:59+00:00November 1st, 2024|Categories: Article, News|

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. This November, DPC is proud [...]

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Federal Officials Update Kidney Community on Baxter Hurricane Recovery

2024-10-24T12:58:01+00:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Article, News, Protect Patient Care|

Officials from the US Department of Health and Human Services updated kidney care leaders on the fallout from hurricane damage to Baxter’s North Caroline plant. A representative of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response said that it is working with the FDA and Baxter to mitigate shortages of fluids for dialysis patients. The government has invoked the Defense Production Act to ensure that Baxter has the materials needed to clean up their facility. Two other companies are increasing production to their full capacity to bring additional products to market. Products from Baxter’s overseas facilities are being airlifted to the US, [...]

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Medicare Drug Plans Are Getting Better Next Year. Some Will Also Cost More.

2024-10-24T12:55:43+00:00October 21st, 2024|Categories: Article, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage, Medicare Advantage, News, Promote Financial Security|

By Susan Jaffe October 21, 2024 When Pam McClure learned she’d save nearly $4,000 on her prescription drugs next year, she said, “it sounded too good to be true.” She and her husband are both retired and live on a “very strict” budget in central North Dakota. By the end of this year, she will have spent almost $6,000 for her medications, including a drug to control her diabetes. McClure, 70, is one of about 3.2 million people with Medicare prescription drug insurance whose out-of-pocket medication costs will be capped at $2,000 in 2025 because of the Biden administration’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, according [...]

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Letter: Dialysis patients deserve better

2025-01-16T18:28:37+00:00October 4th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage, Spotlight|

I remember being diagnosed with kidney disease in 2012 and beginning peritoneal dialysis in 2014. It was an undoubtedly difficult period in my life. Fortunately, I could continue working full time, which allowed me to keep my private insurance. Although Medicare became my primary plan, my private insurance covered 20% of the bill that Medicare did not. My private insurance also broadened my access to treatments and medications. Most patients on dialysis are not well enough to continue working and rely entirely on public assistance. Patients must pay 20% of the bill in states without an affordable Medigap plan to [...]

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Preserve health protections

2024-10-03T19:11:31+00:00October 2nd, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

To the editor: I’ve had kidney troubles ever since I was born. It’s been exhausting managing my health care needs. It became even harder when I began dialysis, the only treatment for kidney failure besides a transplant. Taking care of my health while fulfilling my responsibilities as a mother and a business owner was overwhelming. If you or a loved one have had intensive medical needs, you know how incredibly hard daily life becomes. Eventually, I was able to receive a kidney transplant — only because I have private insurance in addition to Medicare. It’s unconscionable that dialysis patients without [...]

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Private Insurance for Dialysis Care Introduced in the Senate

2024-09-26T14:10:02+00:00September 25th, 2024|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care|

Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) recently introduced The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (S. 5018), which is the Senate companion to H.R. 6860 introduced earlier this year. If you are a dialysis patient, you may be eligible for Medicare, but you also have the right to keep your private employer-sponsored health insurance for up to 30 months after being diagnosed with kidney failure. However, a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision could limit your access to private coverage by allowing health plans to cut dialysis benefits from their networks and impose stricter rules. Along [...]

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