10/23+ NW16 W WA Kidney Support Group

The Road Back to Life is a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring to dialysis patients, patient support groups, and award-winning CKD classes.  They offer patient support groups in Lynnwood WA on October 23, November 27, and December 25, 2018, and in both Monroe and Mountlake Terrace WA on November 13 and December 11.  They also provide November 8, December 6, and December 13, 2018 courses on HOPE (or Healthy Options) in Mountlake Terrace, and a six-part course November 7-December 19 on Survive and Thrive with CKD in Lynnwood WA.  For details see https://www.kidneysupportgroup.com/calendar/.  For more information on The Road Back to Life see https://www.kidneysupportgroup.com/.

10/22+ Laugh Will and Testament Webinar

DPC’s next Educational Call is an October 22, 2018 webinar called Laugh Will and Testament: Using Humor to Contemplate Mortality and Enjoy Life.  See the poster below and http://www.dpcedcenter.org/education-seminars for details.  RSVP at http://www.dpcedcenter.org/education-call-rsvp to get a reminder.

The DPC Education Center is a treasure trove of information on kidney disease; find it at http://www.dpcedcenter.org/.  Mark your calendar for future Educational Calls on November 15 and December 13, and 2019 Calls on January 24, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26, October 24, November 28, and December 26.

Appreciating Your NCTs and NBTs

NANT has published a list of 25 Ways to Celebrate National Dialysis Technician Recognition Week 2018 – which is this week, October 14-20, 2018. Find a copy of the list at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/NANT/Show_appreciation_NRW_2018.pdf.

10/30 NW16 PKG Support Group

The Portland Kidney Group invites patients and care partners to their October 30, 2018 Support Group Meeting in Milwaukie OR.  Topics of discussion will include treatment options and holiday coping strategies.  Kidney-friendly refreshments will be provided, but RSVP is requested.  For details see https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/PKG/PKG1018.pdf.

10/15 Medicare Open Enrollment

This year’s Medicare Open Enrollment period spans October 15 through December 7, 2018.  CMS offers some helpful tools:

• Selecting a type of coverage – https://www.medicare.gov/medicarecoverageoptions/.
• Reviewing your current health plan’s Annual Notice of Change that you should get in the mail – https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-resources/mail-you-get-about-medicare/plan-annual-notice-of-change-anoc.
• Find a health plan that fits – https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx.
• Estimate your costs – https://www.medicare.gov/oopc/.

NW18 Tropical Storm Rosa

Tropical Storm Rosa appears to be impacting Arizona more than California, but for the next few days there are still possibilities of thunderstorms that could trigger flash floods in vulnerable areas, and mudslides in places downhill from the recent fires near Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Burbank, and Sylmar.  Be alert for local weather reports and local emergency bulletins.

CMS requires Networks to track the status of facility operations and patient access to treatment during emergency events.  If the operations of your facility, or ability for patients to have access to dialysis are impacted by emergency events, please let your Network know right away.

• In Southern and South-Central California (Network 18), contact Anabell Galindo-Guerrero at 888-268-1539 or by email at AGalindo-Guerrero@nw18.esrd.net, and fill out the form at http://www.esrdnetwork18.org/machform/embed.php?id=16298 .

9/20 Medicare Open Enrollment Webinar

CMS will hold a September 20, 2018 Open Door Forum webinar on the Medicare tools that will assist beneficiaries during the upcoming Medicare Open Enrollment period.  For details and registration see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-medicare-education-program-nmep-webinar-registration-48651184001.