Category Archives: CMS

Dialysis and “Extra Help” with Meds

Posted on April 9, 2021 by DevonTexas

Most experienced Social Workers know this and will get you set up with this program as soon as you go on Medicare. However, many don’t which means you need to find this yourself. I hope I saved you some hunting … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Insurance, Medicare, Medications, New Patient, Social Work, Transplant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dialysis and “Doc Fix”

Posted on April 15, 2015 by DevonTexas

Finally, after SEVENTEEN years, Congress has passed the “doc fix” bill to fill a hole they created in 1997. Read about it here…  From the DPC website, here’s the impact on dialysis patients based on the House version of the … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, politics, Social Work | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and the 5-star @CMS Rating

Posted on February 13, 2015 by DevonTexas

Dialysis Patient Citizens recently reported on their efforts to respond to the CMS 5-star Rating System.  Under this system, the Mayo Clinic, for example, got a 1-star rating.  Obviously this is not a good measure of patient feelings or experience. … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, lobbying, Medicare, ratings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

NKF Responds to Medicare’s Proposed Changes to Payment and Quality Programs for Dialysis Facilities

Posted on October 23, 2014 by DevonTexas

Originally posted on Advocacy in Action:
Back in July we shared the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s (CMS) proposed changes to dialysis payment and quality incentive program.  After gathering input from kidney patients and professionals we issued formal comments to CMS, which…

Posted in AKF, CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, ESRD, lobbying, Medicare, National Kidney Foundation. NKF | Leave a comment

Dialysis Centers and @CMS 5-star Rating

Posted on September 7, 2014 by DevonTexas

In a previous related post,  I promised I would post more about the Davita position on this when I got it.  So, here it is and it makes some good points.  “What’s Wrong With the 5-Star Rating System for the … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Center, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dialysis and Ratings

Posted on August 5, 2014 by DevonTexas

Recently Medicare/CMS rolled out a 5-star rating system for dialysis centers.   There’s some controversy brewing because some providers are not in favor of this. From the presentation that rolled it out… We’ve also used stars in the Medicare Advantage website for … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, ESRD, lobbying, Medicare, patient care, politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and Washington, DC

Posted on April 21, 2014 by DevonTexas

(I apologize that this is over a month old and I and  I am just now posting it!  Frankly, I thought I had finished it but obviously I didn’t!)  As you may know I was in DC for the Fly-in … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Patient Citizens, disability, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, National Kidney Foundation. NKF, patient care, politics, social networking, thoughts, World Kidney Day | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and Amazing

Posted on March 10, 2014 by DevonTexas

You’re not going to believe this but CMS/Medicare withdrew their proposed changes to Medicare Part D drug coverage for post-transplant patients.  Is that amazing or what?!  I don’t know if it was the actual intervention by the dialysis/transplant community or … Continue reading →

Posted in AAKP, activism, CMS, Dialysis Patient Citizens, ESRD, lobbying, Medicare, National Kidney Foundation. NKF, politics, social networking, World Kidney Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Post-transplant Medications are in Danger!

Posted on February 18, 2014 by DevonTexas

In an article titled “Access to Immunosuppressive Drugs under Medicare Part D is at Risk“, the National Kidney Foundation writes about another issue to which we all need to respond.  Last time at was CMS proposed 12 percent cuts to Dialysis … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, ESRD, kidney, lobbying, Medicare, National Kidney Foundation. NKF, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dialysis and CMS Cuts (Update 12/3)

Posted on December 3, 2013 by DevonTexas

The Final CMS decision about the cuts to dialysis providers is out and Dialysis Patient Citizens has posted about it. To see what DPC wrote about the decision CLICK HERE. To join DPC click on their Home Page and then … Continue reading →

Posted in CMS, dialysis, Dialysis Patient Citizens, DPC, lobbying, Medicare | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment