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For New Kidney Failure Patients Under 65: Is Medicare or an Exchange Plan the Better Insurance Option?

2024-03-29T02:08:07+00:00January 13th, 2014|Categories: Medicaid|Tags: |

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients who progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before the age of 65 now have a new health insurance option—exchange health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Non-elderly patients who do not have, or will not be continuing, employer-sponsored insurance may be better off in an exchange plan depending on their financial circumstances. The reason for this is that the Affordable Care Act is more generous than Medicare in providing extra financial assistance to low-income individuals. Medicare Programs for Low-Income Patients Patient advocates have never considered Medicare to be a particularly generous health benefit, because it [...]

DPC Thanks California for Reinstating Nutritional Supplement Coverage

2024-03-29T02:08:07+00:00January 8th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, State Advocacy|

Ms. Pilar Williams, Chief Medical Supplies & Enteral Nutrition Benefits Branch, Pharmacy Benefits Division California Department of Health Care Services P. O. Box 997413, MS 4604 Sacramento, CA 95899-7413 Re: Proposed Policy Changes to Medi-Cal Enternal Nutrition Products Benefit Dear Ms. Williams, On behalf of the more than 50,000 people on dialysis in California, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) would like to thank you and the state of California for restoring Medi-Cal coverage of enteral nutritional supplements for dialysis patients. With 30,000 members nationwide, DPC works to improve the quality of life of all kidney patients. Access to medically necessary oral [...]

DPC Thanks South Carolina Senator for his Support in Extending Medigap Coverage to Medicare Patients

2024-03-29T02:08:58+00:00April 3rd, 2013|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, Medigap Coverage, State Advocacy|

The Honorable Harvey S. Peeler Jr. 213 Gressette Building Columbia, SC 29201 Dear Senator Peeler, As the nation’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life for all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. On behalf of our membership, and particularly on behalf of the over 7,800 dialysis patients in South Carolina, we are writing today to thank you for introducing legislation to extend Medigap coverage to Medicare patients under the age of 65 with disabilities or end stage renal disease (ESRD). Once enacted, your legislation will help countless patients pay [...]

DPC Highlights CMS Proposed Rule Including Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs

2024-03-29T02:08:59+00:00February 21st, 2013|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid|

Via Electronic Submission Acting Administrator Tavenner Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services P.O. Box 8016 Baltimore, MD 21244 Re: CMS-2334-P:  Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Programs, and Exchanges: Essential Health Benefits in Alternative Benefit Plans, Eligibility Notices, Fair Hearing and Appeal Processes for Medicaid and Exchange Eligibility Appeals and Other Provisions Related to Eligibility and Enrollment for Exchanges, Medicaid and CHIP, and Medicaid Premiums and Cost Sharing Dear Acting Administrator Tavenner: Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule entitled “Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Programs, and Exchanges: Essential Health Benefits [...]

Congressional Corner: A Year of DPC Advocacy Successes!

2024-03-29T02:09:00+00:00December 12th, 2012|Categories: Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage, Medicaid, State Advocacy, Transportation Services|Tags: , |

By Carrie L., Director of Congressional and State Relations As 2012 comes to an end, DPC has a lot to celebrate and a lot to look forward to. DPC staff and most importantly our members, have achieved so much this year, bringing awareness to kidney disease issues both in Congress and in their communities! Patient Ambassadors held dozens of kidney and dialysis awareness events across the country in support of World Kidney Day and other events throughout the year. Patient Ambassadors taught members of their churches and civic organizations as well as youth in schools about the importance of keeping your [...]

DPC Encourages New York State Office of Health Insurance Plans to Reinstate Coverage of Oral Nutritional Supplements

2024-03-29T02:09:25+00:00July 10th, 2012|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, State Advocacy|

Dr. Jonathan Curtin, Medical Director NYS Department of Health Division of OHIP Operations Office of Health Insurance Programs 150 Broadway Albany, NY 12204 Jonathan Bick, Acting Director NYS Department of Health Division of OHIP Operations Office of Health Insurance Programs 150 Broadway Albany, NY 12204 RE: Medicaid Coverage of Enteral Nutritional Supplements Dear Dr. Curtin and Acting Director Bick, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), the nation’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, strives to improve the quality of life of all end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients through education and advocacy. We are writing today on behalf of the 25,695 dialysis [...]

DPC Urges Medicaid to Cover Nutritional Supplements for Dialysis Patients

2024-03-29T02:09:26+00:00January 27th, 2012|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, State Advocacy|

Vivianne M. Chaumont, Director Division of Medicaid & Long-Term Care Department of Health and Human Services 301 Centennial Mall South Lincoln, NE 68509 Dear Director Chaumont: As America’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life of all dialysis patients through education and advocacy. Today we are writing on behalf of the 1,442 dialysis patients in Nebraska, urging you not to eliminate Medicaid coverage of oral nutritional supplements. Many patients on dialysis utilize these supplements to help maintain a high quality of life, and elimination of Medicaid coverage will compromise the [...]

DPC Opposes Proposed Rule to Limit Medicaid Coverage of Nutritional Supplements

2024-03-29T02:09:26+00:00November 2nd, 2011|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, State Advocacy|

Katherine Ceroalo New York State Department of Health Bureau of House Counsel, Regulatory Affairs Unit Room 2438, ESP, Tower Building Albany, NY 12237 RE: Medicaid Benefit Limits for Enteral Formula (I.D. No. HLT-39-11-00007-P) Dear Ms. Ceroalo, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) appreciates the opportunity to submit comments on the proposed rule to limit Medicaid coverage of enteral formula (I.D. No. HLT-39-11-00007-P). We write today on behalf of the 24,941 dialysis patients living in New York because our membership remains profoundly concerned about the restriction of these vital supplements. The proposed rule to limit coverage of enteral nutritional supplements to adults over [...]

DPC Comments on Restrictions to New York Medicaid Coverage of Enteral Nutritional Supplements

2024-03-29T02:09:26+00:00October 11th, 2011|Categories: Comment Letter, Medicaid, State Advocacy|

Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, Chair, Assembly Health Committee Legislative Office Building (LOB), Room 822 Albany, NY 12248 Senator Kemp Hannon, Chair, Senate Health Committee 420 State Capitol Bldg. Albany, NY 12247 RE: Restrictions to New York Medicaid Coverage of Enteral Nutritional Supplements Dear Senate Health Committee Chair Hannon and Assembly Health Committee Chair Gottfried: As America’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) works to improve the quality of life of dialysis patients. Today we write on behalf of the 24,491 dialysis patients in New York, because we remain deeply concerned about the loss of coverage of enternal [...]

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