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Delaware Unanimously Passes Medigap Birthday Rule

2025-06-25T13:59:21+00:00June 13th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

With a unanimous vote in the Delaware House of Representatives on June 12, the Delaware General Assembly has unanimously passed SB 71 in both chambers. This legislation, called a birthday rule, creates a special open enrollment window for persons already enrolled in a Medicare Supplement policy (also called Medigap) to switch to another plan that provides the same or lesser benefits, allowing Enrollees to find a plan that better fits their financial circumstances. Further, this bill allows those on Medicare Advantage plans to switch back to Medicare Supplement coverage, but does include a pre-existing condition limitation.  The special open enrollment window [...]

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Dialysis Patient Citizens Applauds Nevada Governor Signing Legislation Expanding Access to Affordable Medigap Coverage for Dialysis Patients

2025-06-09T17:58:42+00:00June 9th, 2025|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Press Release, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

Carson City, NV (June 9, 2025) – Governor Joe Lombardo (R-NV) and the Nevada State Legislature have taken a historic step to ensure affordable access to Medicare Supplement Insurance plans, also known as Medigap, to Medicare enrollees under age 65, including Nevada residents with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Senate Bill 292, sponsored and championed by Senator Roberta Lange (D-NV-7), passed the Senate unanimously and the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support (39-3), and it was signed into law by Governor Lombardo. SB 292 guarantees that dialysis patients under 65-years-old in Nevada have access to affordable Medigap coverage, filling dire gaps in [...]

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Texas Medigap Update – May 2025

2025-05-22T19:46:41+00:00May 22nd, 2025|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

Texas House Bill 2516 was unanimously approved by the House Insurance Committee and passed off the House Floor with overwhelming bipartisan support (130-19). This legislation, which will provide affordable access to Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) to individuals who are under age 65 with ESRD, is now in the Texas Senate. HB 2516 recently passed unanimously out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is expected to be heard on the Senate Floor shortly. Throughout the legislative process, we’ve had nearly 20 Texas legislators join author Representative Ryan Guillen to support this important bill. Many thanks to all of [...]

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DPC Submits Letter to HRSA on Out-of-Sequence Organ Donation

2025-05-22T17:13:52+00:00May 22nd, 2025|Categories: Access to Transplant, Advance Patient Choice, Article, Protect Patient Care|

On May 21, 2025, DPC submitted a letter to Thomas J. Engels, Administrator at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), expressing concern about the growth in out-of-sequence organ transplants reported in a recent New York Times article. The article outlines a recent shift in the transplant system, where someone’s ranking on the transplant list may be ignored and instead the organ is given to a patient further down the list, usually due to easier coordination for the transplant. As a patient-led organization whose board is comprised of dialysis and kidney transplant patients, DPC is alarmed at the reported rate [...]

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DPC’s Letter to Thomas J. Engels, Administrator at Health Resources and Services Administration, on Out-of-Sequence Organ Allocations

2025-05-21T20:16:46+00:00May 21st, 2025|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Protect Patient Care|

May 21, 2025 Thomas J. Engels, Administrator Health Resources and Services Administration 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857 Re:      Out-of-Sequence Organ Allocations Dear Administrator Engels: Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) writes to express our concerns about the growth in out-of-sequence organ transplants reported in a recent New York Times article. DPC's membership, currently about 35,000, is restricted to kidney disease patients and their family members. DPC is a patient-led organization.  Our by-laws require that the President, Vice President and at least 51% of the Board be current dialysis patients.  The non-dialysis patients serving on our Board are former dialysis patients with [...]

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Nevada Medigap Update – May 2025

2025-05-22T17:19:44+00:00May 19th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

After unanimous passage in the Nevada State Senate, the Nevada Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor unanimously approved Senate Bill 292 on May 16th. Sponsored by State Senator Roberta Lange (NV-7), this important legislation will provide access to affordable Medicare Supplement Insurance, otherwise known as Medigap to the under age 65 Medicare eligible population. Currently individuals under age 65 in the state of Nevada who are eligible for Medicare as a result of End Stage Renal Disease or by disability are not able to access Medigap coverage. Nevada resident and DPC Patient Ambassador, Chuck Lizer, shared his story with the [...]

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Nevada Moves Closer to Medigap for ESRD Patients

2025-03-31T18:39:44+00:00March 28th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, News, Patient Ambassadors, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

On March 27th, the Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor unanimously approved Senate Bill 292. Sponsored by State Senator Roberta Lange (NV-7), this important legislation will provide affordable access to Medigap coverage to the under age 65 Medicare eligible population. Nevada resident and DPC Patient Ambassador, Chuck Lizer, shared his story with the committee, helping legislators understand the unique challenges faced by dialysis patients. SB 292 will now go to the full Senate for consideration, and if approved, moves to the Nevada State Assembly. Thank you, Chuck, for advocating for ESRD patients in Nevada!

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Georgia Medigap Legislation Passes First Hurdle

2025-02-27T14:59:05+00:00February 25th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

On February 24, HB 323 was unanimously approved by the Health Committee of the Georgia House of Representatives. Sponsored by State Representative Karen Mathiak (R-82), this legislation will provide affordable access to Medigap coverage to the under 65 Medicare eligible population. DPC Patient Ambassadors Kristi Flynn and Christopher Richards shared their stories with the committee, helping legislators understand the unique challenges faced by both kidney transplant and dialysis patients. HB 323 will now go to the full House for consideration, and if approved, moves over to the Senate. Thank you, Kristi and Christopher, for traveling to Atlanta to advocate for all [...]

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Building Momentum: DPC’s Growing Patient Ambassador Network

2025-02-27T15:04:29+00:00February 10th, 2025|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Policy Issues, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

By Yolonda Brisbane, DPC Grassroots Manager Since I began my role as Grassroots Manager for Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) in April 2022, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the growth of something truly special—the Patient Ambassador Program. This network of DPC members from across the country is dedicated to amplifying their voices and making a real difference. Turning personal health challenges and difficult experiences into action, they advocate for better care for the kidney patient community. In addition to their ongoing advocacy efforts, DPC Patient Ambassadors take part in Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, meeting with lawmakers to push for positive [...]

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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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