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About Hannah Bracamonte

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So far Hannah Bracamonte has created 640 blog entries.

Mark Your Calendar for our February Patient Ambassador Call

2024-03-29T01:12:07+00:00January 17th, 2020|Categories: Uncategorized|

Please join us on February 13 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern for our first Patient Ambassador call of 2020! Please RSVP to let us know you can attend the call. Call Details are below: Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020 Time: 2:00 PM ET, 1:00 PM CT, 12:00 PM MT, 11:00 AM PT Follow these instructions at the time of the call: Call: 1-877-399-5186 Enter Meeting Code: 269 743 2061 Join Online (optional): https://dialysispatients.adobeconnect.com/patient-ambassador-call/ Thank you for elevating the voice of dialysis patients by representing DPC as a leader in your community.

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Action Alert – Secure Patient Access to Immunosuppressive Medications

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00January 12th, 2020|Categories: Access to Transplant, Article, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage, Take Action|

The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2019 (H.R. 5534) was recently introduced by Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Michael Burgess (R-TX). This legislation would extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressant drugs beyond the current limit of 36 months for patients who are unable to obtain health insurance coverage elsewhere. Immunosuppressive medications play a critical role in preventing transplant recipients from rejecting a donor kidney. Right now, after dialysis patients receive a transplant, if they are under the age of 65, they are only eligible to remain on Medicare for an additional 36 months. After this three-year [...]

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Court Temporarily Blocks AB 290, Allowing Charitable Assistance Program to Continue Serving Dialysis Patients Pending Trial Outcome

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00January 8th, 2020|Categories: Article, Charitable Premium Assistance, Improve Access to Care, Legal Defense, State Advocacy|

DPC works hard to protect patient access to quality care for all dialysis patients, which is often only possible with the support charitable assistance from organizations such as the American Kidney Fund (AKF). Unfortunately, a new law recently enacted in California threatens that access. DPC quickly joined AKF and two patients as plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to prevent this newly passed law from going into effect at the start of 2020. In late December, we were pleased that the court recognized our concerns of potential patient harm, granting us a preliminary injunction, which prevents the law from taking effect [...]

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Medigap Coverage Gains Support in New Legislation

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00January 4th, 2020|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, Take Action|

During recent discussions on drug pricing legislation, House leadership decided to use some of the potential savings to pay for some of our priorities. One such provision would provide all dialysis patients with access to Medigap—a supplemental insurance plan which helps patients pay for the expenses not covered by Medicare. This priority was originally included in the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act (S. 1676/ H.R. 3912) or “Kidney Bill.” Under Federal law, Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older are guaranteed access to Medigap policies, but beneficiaries under age 65, including many with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), [...]

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Happy Holidays and DPC’s Top 10 Accomplishments of 2019

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00December 20th, 2019|Categories: 5-Star Ratings, About DPC, Access to Transplant, Article, Care Coordination, Charitable Premium Assistance, Dental Coverage, Dialysis Funding, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage, Innovation, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Quality Incentive Program, Transplant Donor Protection, Transportation Services, Treatment Options|

Dialysis Patient Citizens wants to wish you and your family a Happy Holiday, as well as a safe and healthy New Year. Our offices will be closed for the holidays starting December 23 through January 1. We also want to take this opportunity to share our list of Top 10 Accomplishments for 2019, which would not have been possible without your support. Thank you again for helping us elevate the dialysis patient voice with policy makers. We are extremely grateful for all of your advocacy efforts, and we look forward to our continued collaboration in 2020 as we work together to improve dialysis [...]

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Trump Administration Proposes New Rules to Increase Accountability and Availability of the Organ Supply

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00December 17th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today took major steps to increase the availability of organs for the 113,000 Americans on waitlists for lifesaving organ transplants – 20 of whom die each day. As directed by President Trump in his July 10 Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing a proposed rule to change the way organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are held accountable for their performance, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is issuing a proposed rule to remove financial barriers to living organ donation. This summer, [...]

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Advocacy Day Application Deadline Extended 1 Week

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00December 14th, 2019|Categories: Article, Get Involved, Take Action|

Good news—the deadline to apply for DPC's 2020 Advocacy Day in Washington, DC has been extended one week to Friday, December 20! We want to elevate the patient voice with policy makers with a strong and united group of advocates from all 50 states. Become a leader in your community by applying, and you could be the voice for dialysis patients with your state lawmakers in our nation’s capital.  We understand that the holidays are an especially busy time of year for many people, and we hope you will take some time in the next week to elevate the patient [...]

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DPC Board of Directors Elect New President

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00December 9th, 2019|Categories: Article, Board Members|

Andrew Conkling Andrew Conkling was elected as the new president for Dialysis Patient Citizens by DPC's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Conkling has served as DPC Vice President since 2016, participated in a number of DPC's Advocacy Days and met with lawmakers to discuss kidney disease issues from his home state of Alabama. He has also served as a DPC Patient Ambassador, clinic patient representative and done community outreach by sharing his personal experiences with young people. "It is an honor to be selected as DPC's Board President. I want to thank Jack Reynolds for his outstanding service as [...]

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DPC Meets with Oregon State Legislatures to Protect Patient Care

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00December 2nd, 2019|Categories: Article, Charitable Premium Assistance, Improve Access to Care, State Advocacy|

DPC staff standing in front of Oregon State Capitol In mid-November, DPC staff traveled to Salem, Oregon, to attend an informational hearing held by the Oregon House Committee on Health Care regarding outpatient dialysis treatment. The hearing focused on issues such as improving and expanding patient access to care while exploring ways in which to lower the cost of health care delivry for dialysis patients. While there, DPC staff also took the opportunity to meet individually with nearly all the Members of the House and Senate Health Committees or their staff. The goal of our meetings was to [...]

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Congressman Payne Jr. Comments on CMS Proposed Rule Regarding ESRD Treatment Choices Model Demonstration

2024-03-29T01:13:32+00:00November 20th, 2019|Categories: Treatment Options|

Congressman Donald Payne Jr. sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the ESRD Treatment Choices Model Demonstration, which is the rule that pertains to increasing the number of home dialysis treatments and kidney transplants. Payne focused on the importance of protecting and prioritizing patient choice. Specifically, he explained that home dialysis is not always an optimal treatment option for patients due to a lack of caregiver support and the necessary space requirements needed for this treatment. Payne provides a unique perspective to the conversation on advancing kidney health in America. He has End-Stage Renal Disease [...]

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