Promote Financial Security Archives - Page 29 of 37

Dialysis Patient Advocates Urge Congress to Improve Kidney Disease Research and Care

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:40+00:00May 30th, 2017|Categories: Dialysis Funding, Medigap Coverage, Press Release|

Advocates for dialysis patients announced their strong support of bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress last week that would augment research on kidney disease, improve coordination among kidney care providers and expand coverage options for patients with kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act (H.R. 2644) would improve the care of the more than 675,000 ESRD patients nationwide who require transplantation or frequent dialysis treatments to survive. Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), a leading advocacy group for people with kidney disease that represents nearly 30,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis patients, is particularly [...]

Advocating for Patients on World Kidney Day

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:40+00:00March 9th, 2017|Categories: About DPC, Article, Charitable Premium Assistance, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, What is Kidney Disease?|Tags: World Kidney Day|

Today the global community of people fighting kidney disease commemorates World Kidney Day, an effort to raise awareness of the importance of healthy kidneys and reduce the devastating impact of kidney disease, which affects 1 out of every 10 people worldwide. Although the condition is incurable, effective treatments are available. An estimated 2.6 million people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, received dialysis in 2010. That number is expected to more than double to 5.4 million by 2030. As the incidence of kidney disease rises, so too does the importance of ensuring that patients have access to lifesaving care. [...]

Dialysis Patient Citizens Wins Court Ruling Against Insurer Veto on ESRD Patients

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:40+00:00February 16th, 2017|Categories: Access to Transplant, Charitable Premium Assistance, Improve Access to Care, Legal Defense, Medigap Coverage, Treatment Options|

In a lawsuit filed by DPC against the Department of Health and Human Services, a federal court has blocked a regulation that would have given insurers veto power over ESRD patients’ access to private coverage. The judge called the regulation, that could have forced dialysis patients off their current health insurance and jeopardized their access to care, “arbitrary and capricious.” In enjoining the regulation’s enforcement, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas held that the rule was 1) procedurally defective because HHS adopted it without first giving the public notice of it and seeking comment on it, [...]

Judge Blocks CMS Rule on Premium Assistance for Kidney Patients

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:40+00:00January 26th, 2017|Categories: Charitable Premium Assistance, Legal Defense, Press|

Dialysis Patient Advocates Applaud Ruling in Case Against CMS

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:40+00:00January 25th, 2017|Categories: Access to Transplant, Charitable Premium Assistance, Legal Defense, Medigap Coverage, Press Release|

Federal court blocks CMS regulation that would give insurers veto power over access to private coverage; judge calls it ‘arbitrary and capricious’ Washington, D.C. – Advocates for dialysis patients are celebrating a federal court ruling today to grant a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing a regulation that could force patients off their current health insurance and jeopardize their access to care. In enjoining the regulation’s enforcement, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas held that the rule was 1) procedurally defective because HHS adopted it without first giving [...]

Re: CMS-3337-IFC: Medicare Program; Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities—Third Party Payment

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:41+00:00January 10th, 2017|Categories: Charitable Premium Assistance, Comment Letter|

Re: CMS-3337-IFC: Medicare Program; Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities--Third Party Payment To whom it may concern: Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) writes to offer its comments on the above referenced interim final rule. We are requesting that the Agency withdraw the rule and follow the notice-and-comment rulemaking process prescribed by the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). We explain below why this unusual regulatory action reached an incorrect result. DPC's membership is restricted to kidney disease patients and their family members. We have more than 28,000 total members. DPC is a patient-led organization. Its by-laws require that the President, Vice [...]

Dialysis Patient Advocates Seek Restraining Order Against CMS

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:41+00:00January 9th, 2017|Categories: Access to Transplant, Care Coordination, Charitable Premium Assistance, Medigap Coverage, Press Release, State Advocacy|

Lawsuit charges that CMS rule to take effect Jan. 13 gives insurers illegal veto power over access to private coverage Washington, D.C. – Advocates for dialysis patients filed suit in federal court today to prevent the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from enforcing a rule that could force patients off their current health plans and jeopardize their access to care. The regulation, which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Dec. 13 outside the formal rulemaking process, gives insurers the power to prevent dialysis patients from receiving charitable premium assistance that makes it possible for [...]

Protecting Dialysis Patients’ Health Coverage

Hannah Bracamonte2024-03-29T01:13:41+00:00January 9th, 2017|Categories: Access to Transplant, Blog, Care Coordination, Charitable Premium Assistance, Legal Defense, Medigap Coverage|Tags: Health Insurance Exchange|

By Hrant Jamgochian, CEO Dialysis Patient Citizens Across the country, thousands of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) face the agonizing choice of paying for necessities such as rent and food, or paying the insurance premiums that enable them to get dialysis and other critical care. Fortunately, ESRD patients have options. Thanks to federal law, they can enroll in Medicare at any age. Or, if they would rather keep a private insurance plan, they can apply for financial help from charities such as the American Kidney Fund. These payments are a lifeline that enables patients to maintain their existing coverage and [...]