Health Care Update

Due to recent changes in the political makeup of the U.S. Senate and continued debate over what specific policy measures final legislation should include, the outcomes of health care reform remain uncertain for this year.  On January 19, Republican Scott Brown won the former Senate seat of the late Edward Kennedy (D-MA.), resulting in Senate Democrats now lacking the 60 supportive votes needed to pass reform legislation without support from Republicans. 

It is possible that the U.S. House of Representatives could come together to pass the Senate’s version of the reform bill, and if it passes, it would then be sent to the President for approval and signing into law.  However, because the House has indicated it does not have enough support in place to pass the current Senate bill, it is likely that both the Senate and House will need to “reconcile” to agree to certain changes to the current Senate legislation, such as revisions to the tax on the controversial high-cost “Cadillac” health plans, in a separate bill in order to achieve passage in the House. 

>Health Care Update February 2010

What is Quality Health Care?

Within the health care reform debate and the upcoming changes to Medicare payment for dialysis, the quality of care patients receive has become a national focus.  However, what exactly is meant by quality is not always clear. 

As the recipient of care, the best person to determine the quality of care is the patient.  Today, we are asking you how you judge the quality of your own health care. 

We will post selected responses on our Patient Connections page, so be sure to send us your thoughts and check back to read what your fellow dialysis patients feel is good quality care.

>What does quality care mean to you?

World Kidney Day Countdown!

March is National Kidney Month, and March 11th is World Kidney Day (WKD).  WKD is a global health awareness campaign. The international campaign focuses on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. 

During the month of March, we encourage you to participate in this important day by educating your local community about kidney disease.  Learn ways you can raise awareness and help support this important public health campaign at DPC’s dedicated WKD website www.wkdaction.org. 

The more awareness we bring to our communities the better the chance we have at reducing the number of new people afflicted with kidney failure. 

Medicare, Megigap
and State Dialysis Days

Currently, Medicare coverage includes individuals over the age of 65 and those under 65 who meet certain conditions, including the diagnosis of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 

While Medicare covers most medical costs, it requires patients to pay deductibles and co-pays.  Most patients have secondary insurance to help with these costs.  However, many do not and cannot afford Medicare deductibles and co-pays.  As a result, they are often unable to access critical services – like kidney transplants—because of the associated out-of-pocket costs that are required—and they often turn to the Medicaid program for support.

Encourage your lawmakers in Arizona and Georgia to support current legislation drafted to extend Medigap coverage to dialysis patients.

On a national level, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts has introduced legislation into the Senate that would require all states to offer Medigap secondary insurance for dialysis patients and people with disabilities covered by Medicare under the age of 65.

Please email Congress to let them you support S. 1669 Equal Access to Medicare Options Act of 2009.

>More on Medicare, Medigap and State Dialysis Days