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2014 World Kidney Day Fly-In

2024-03-29T02:08:06+00:00March 6th, 2014|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage|Tags: |

Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) will be hosting our annual World Kidney Day Fly-In from March 11 to March 13, 2014.  Twenty-eight patients and family members from 23 states will arrive in Washington, DC to speak to nearly 100 Congressional offices about issues that affect people with kidney failure.  In addition, the group will be joined by 17 dialysis facility professionals who will help amplify their message.  The day prior to visiting Capitol Hill, participants will receive a comprehensive issue briefing and advocacy training from DPC staff. During this Fly-In we will be speaking with Congressional office staff about ensuring adequate funding [...]

DPC Thanks Texas for Allowing ESRD Patients to Purchase Medigap Plans

2024-03-29T02:08:07+00:00January 27th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Medigap Coverage, State Advocacy|

Ms. Sara Waitt, General Counsel Texas Department of Insurance P.O. Box 149104 Austin, TX 78714-9104 Re: Minimum Standards for Medicare Supplement Policies Dear Ms. Waitt, 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 over 37,000 dialysis patients in Texas, specifically those who use the Texas Health Insurance Pool for supplemental insurance. We would like to express our gratitude for the recent decision to extend an additional two-month guaranteed issue period from the date of [...]

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 Encourages Coverage of Renal Dialysis in Exchange Plans

2024-03-29T02:08:07+00:00January 6th, 2014|Categories: Comment Letter, Promote Financial Security|Tags: |

Hon. Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey Building 200 Independence Ave, SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Re: Coverage of Renal Dialysis in Exchange Plans Dear Administrator Tavenner: Dialysis Patient Citizens, America’s largest patient-led organization representing dialysis patients, is comprised of more than 26,000 dialysis and pre-dialysis patients and their families. We seek to ensure the patient point of view is considered by policy makers. We are writing to express our concerns about language we found in a spot-check of exchange plan documents that appears to permit disenrollment of patients [...]

Health Insurance Marketplaces Under Affordable Care Act Are Open For Business: What Does It Mean For Kidney Patients?

2024-03-29T02:08:08+00:00October 10th, 2013|Categories: Article, Promote Financial Security|Tags: |

On October 1, online health insurance exchanges went live. Here's what dialysis patients should know about the Affordable Care Act (also known as ACA or "Obamacare"): Health insurance sold in the ACA exchanges is for people who do not (or will not after January 1) have health insurance provided by Medicare or an employer-sponsored health plan. Kidney patients who have received a transplant and whose Medicare coverage has ended/will end soon will want to explore receiving coverage through an ACA exchange plan. Pre-existing conditions will not be a barrier to purchasing an exchange plan. DPC staff is researching whether, for [...]

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 [...]

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