Category Archives: Patients & Family

6/25 CMS Seeks Comment on Rural Hospital Payment Changes

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CMS has proposed that they improve their payments to rural hospitals, in an effort to improve rural health in the US.  While this isn’t directly relevant to ESRD, it will certainly be relevant whenever a kidney patient needs services at a hospital in a rural area.  Find the Proposed Rule and Request for Comment at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-05-07/pdf/2018-08705.pdf, and a Notice of Corrections at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-06-20/pdf/2018-13152.pdf.  Comments are due by June 25, 2019.  For background information see https://www.cms.gov/blog/putting-our-rethinking-rural-health-strategy-action and https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AcuteInpatientPPS/FY2019-IPPS-Proposed-Rule-Home-Page-Items/FY2019-IPPS-Proposed-Rule-Regulations.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=0&DLSortDir=ascending.

MEI Primer on ESRD, SSI, SSDI, and Medicare

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The Medical Education Institute has written a blog post on Social Security Policies Related to Medicare: A Primer.  It’s really complicated, so it may be more appropriate for a Social Worker than a patient, but if the Primer is this complex, the Reality must be especially daunting – which makes a Primer all the more valuable.  Find the Primer at https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/307-social-security-policies-related-to-medicare-a-primer.

5/14 AAKP HealthLine on SHPT

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AAKP will present a May 14, 2019 webinar on Understanding Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) – What is it?  How can it be managed?  Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8410471602615141899.  Future HealthLine webinars will discuss Traveling While on Dialysis in June, and Exercise and Physical Rehabilitation in July.  AAKP’s HealthLine page at https://aakp.org/aakp-healthline/ includes a link to their long list of past HealthLine webinars.

NW18 5/5 The KIDney Zone at Santa Monica Beach

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Featuring the KIDney Zone: Fun for the Family!
Sunday, May 5th, 2019,  11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Dorothy Green Park, Santa Monica Beach Park #1
Ocean Park Blvd & Barnard Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
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We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, May 5th at Dorothy Green Park in beautiful Santa Monica beach.  We highly encourage that you RSVP (instructions found below) so you can stay up to date with all of the latest on the fair.   As always, we have a special section dedicated to fun for the kids called the KIDney Zone.   Feel free to drop off your child at the KIDney Zone when you arrive so that you can enjoy the entertainment and educational aspects of our fair.  Our team has been working hard to make sure that your kids will have a blast at the KIDney Zone with the following activities featured:
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LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT
 
Don’t miss out on the chance to board a real firetruck as we welcome the Los Angeles Fire Department to our fair! They will be at the event from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM so make sure you plan ahead for these hours for this wonderful photo-op.
 
PEOPLE-ANIMAL CONNECTION
The UCLA People-Animal Connection (https://www.uclahealth.org/PAC/default.cfm) is one of the most comprehensive Animal-Assisted Therapy and Activity Programs in the nation.  These therapy dogs are trained to interact with a variety of people. They have very stable temperaments and a friendly, easy-going personality and they’ll be hanging out next to the KIDney Zone for the entirety of the fair.
 
BUILD A BEAR RADIO
We are excited to welcome Build-a-Bear Radio as a partner for our fair!  This year, they will be streaming their radio station throughout the event as well as giving away bears throughout the event.  Make sure to come early if you want to check out what they have to offer!
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OTHER FEATURED ACTIVITIES
Braid Bar – Nine Zero One Salon
Pioneering Poles & Ropes Activity & Pine Wood Derby – Boy Scouts of America
Arts & Crafts/Face Painting – Bruin Beans Health Club
Don’t miss out on our KIDney Zone this year!
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HOW TO REGISTER
RSVP is highly preferred and encouraged!  There are options to pre-register, as well as on-site registration.  Pre-registered guests will receive a UCLA souvenir upon entry.  all us at (310) 954-2692 or email us at COREKidney@mednet.ucla.edu.
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HOW TO SUPPORT
Donations are tax-deductible.  UCLA is a public, non-profit educational institution exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.  We hope that you can all make it on Sunday, May 5th to our Kidney Health Fair at the Beach.  If you are unable to come, we hope that you can still consider supporting our cause. Visit our new UCLA Spark crowdfunding page at https://spark.ucla.edu/project/15493 to learn more about our campaign and share with other advocates to help generate more interest and to see our progress as we strive to reach our goal of $150,000.  Our ultimate goal is to set up a Kidney Center at UCLA that provides comprehensive care to kidney patients and their families, from pre-diagnosis to transplant.
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We look forward to seeing you there!
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6/3 EMR Interoperability Comment Period Extension

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CMS has announced that the comment period for their Proposed Rules on Interoperability of Electronic Medical Records has been extended to June 3, 2019.  The Proposed Rules are aimed at promoting the ability of different health information technologies to communicate with one another, and at enabling patients to electronically access their health information.  Find the Proposed Rules at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2019/02/11/hhs-proposes-new-rules-improve-interoperability-electronic-health-information.html.

The extension of the public comment period coincides with release, from the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, of:

For More Information see: