Hannah Bracamonte, Author at Dialysis Patient Citizens

National Minority Health Month
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National Minority Health Month

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:10:16+00:00April 5th, 2021|Categories: Article, Improve Access to Care|Tags: COVID-19|

April is also recognized as National Minority Health Month, in an effort to highlight and address the health disparities experienced in minority communities. This is especially prevalent among kidney and dialysis patients; Hispanic or Latino Americans 1.3 times more likely to have kidney failure than white Americans, Black or African Americans are almost 4 times more likely, American Indians and Alaska Natives are 1.2 times more likely, and Asian Americans are also at a higher risk. Additionally, the main risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) disproportionately affect minorities. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, family history of kidney failure, diabetes, [...]

Support New Kidney Care Act
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Support New Kidney Care Act

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:11:59+00:00April 1st, 2021|Categories: Care Coordination, Patient Ambassadors, Patient's Voice, Spotlight|

By Antonio Green of Virginia Beach, VA. While working in Abu Dhabi, I found out I had kidney disease and needed to begin dialysis. I was able to continue working abroad for a few more years, but a 2017 trip to the hospital showed me it was time to move back home. Since then, I’ve noticed that a better, more coordinated system is needed to help dialysis patients. Even when I had a care coordinator, I found the system never really worked for me. Whether it was managing medications, doctors’ appointments or even my attempts to get a kidney transplant, [...]

April is Donate Life Month
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April is Donate Life Month

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00April 1st, 2021|Categories: Access to Transplant, Article, Transplant Donor Protection|

Each April, National Donate Life Month encourages Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors; to become educated about living donation (that includes living kidney donation!); and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. Over 100,000 children, men, and women are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, with a new person added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes. Here is some more information on the different types of transplant and what you can do to help. What are the different types of organ donation? Living donation – living donation is an opportunity [...]

Statement of Dialysis Patient Citizens on Confirmation of Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services
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Statement of Dialysis Patient Citizens on Confirmation of Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00March 23rd, 2021|Categories: News|

Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) congratulates Xavier Becerra on his confirmation as Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). DPC appreciates his dedication to serving our nation and looks forward to working with him on policies that benefit the health and well-being of the millions of Americans suffering from kidney disease, and especially those who require dialysis treatments. Dialysis Patient Citizens is a nationwide, non-profit, patient-led organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. Through our efforts, we look to provide a voice to these patients and amplify their [...]

DPC’s Annual Advocacy Day Application is Now Open! Apply by April 9, 2021
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DPC’s Annual Advocacy Day Application is Now Open! Apply by April 9, 2021

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00March 19th, 2021|Categories: Article, Get Involved, Take Action|

Each year Dialysis Patient Citizens is pleased to bring kidney patients and transplant recipients to Washington, D.C. to meet with their legislators and talk about issues that affect their quality of care. Due to the ongoing pandemic and out of abundance of safety for our patients, this year we will be hosting our fly-in virtually on September 21st, with two opportunities of training beforehand. Participants will be selected based on the quality of their application, legislative priorities, and previous involvement in DPC's advocacy efforts. Next year when we are hopefully able to resume an in person fly-in, previous participation will also [...]

Bipartisan Living Donor Protection Act Introduced to Protect Organ Donors
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Bipartisan Living Donor Protection Act Introduced to Protect Organ Donors

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00March 18th, 2021|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Policy Issues, Transplant Donor Protection|

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA), joined by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), introduced the Living Donor Protection Act to protect the rights of living organ donors. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does not specify that living organ donors can take unpaid leave to recover from their donation and does not guarantee that donors will have a job waiting for them after surgery. Further, according to a 2007 study in the American Journal of Transplantation, as many as 11% of living organ donors experience difficulty securing or paying for insurance after [...]

Bipartisan, Bicameral Members of Congress Urge Biden Administration to Finalize Organ Procurement Reforms
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Bipartisan, Bicameral Members of Congress Urge Biden Administration to Finalize Organ Procurement Reforms

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00March 16th, 2021|Categories: Access to Transplant, Article|

A coalition of congressional leaders from the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform today urged the Biden administration to finalize a rule to reform the organ procurement system in the United States. The letter, sent to Acting Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Norris Cochran was signed by Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Todd Young, R-Ind.; House Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR) Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., and Ranking Member James Comer, R-Ky.; House COR Economic and Consumer Policy Subcommittee Chair Raja Krishnamoorthi, [...]

Dialysis Patient Citizens Commends Reintroduction of the Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act
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Dialysis Patient Citizens Commends Reintroduction of the Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00March 12th, 2021|Categories: Press Release|

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) released the following statement today thanking Congresswomen Cynthia Axne (D-IA-03) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-03) for introducing the Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act (H.R. 1676) in honor of founding DPC Board member and longest-serving president Jack Reynolds. The bill, which was originally introduced last year, would expand Medigap coverage for patients under 65 who suffer from End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). "Currently, it's up to each state to determine whether Medigap plans are sold to the more than 9 million people younger than 65 years old who could qualify because of their kidney illnesses," Rep. Axne said. "The issue that [...]

DPC’s Letter to Elizabeth Fowler, Deputy Administrator for CMMI

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00March 8th, 2021|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Medicare Advantage|

Ms. Elizabeth Fowler, Deputy Administrator Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation 2810 Lord Baltimore Drive Windsor Mill, MD 21244. Dear Ms. Fowler: We are seeking a bottom-up review of the ESRD Treatment Choice (ETC) demonstration including consideration of other options to pilot innovations to improve home dialysis take-up and kidney transplantation. Like other kidney advocates, we appreciated the long-overdue cabinet-level attention that was paid to these issues under the Trump administration. But, the ETC program is flawed in concept and execution, and represents a missed opportunity to address pressing problems. As explained in greater detail below, we think it would be [...]

Dori Wolf: Kidney Care
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Dori Wolf: Kidney Care

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:12:00+00:00March 8th, 2021|Categories: Care Coordination, Patient's Voice, Spotlight|

By Dori Wolf of Woodland, CA, DPC Patient Ambassador Finding out I had kidney disease in 1984 forced me to change a lot in my life. Thankfully, due to my work to stay healthy, I was able to avoid needing dialysis until 2007. Starting dialysis was a draining experience that required drastic changes to my diet and exercise habits, despite constantly feeling unwell. However, with the support of my family, I’ve been able to follow doctors’ advice and keep up with treatments. A major frustration, however, has been a lack of coordination in my care. I have 32 allergies to [...]

About Hannah Bracamonte

Dialysis Patient Citizens

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