CMS has published a summary of changes and other important information about the October 2019 update to Dialysis Facility Compare (https://www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/). Find the summary at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/End-Stage-Renal-Disease/ESRDGeneralInformation/Downloads/DFC-October-2019-Release-Q-and-A.pdf.
The Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition has published a list of useful resources for patients and others dealing with the wildfires in California. The list includes links or contact information for KCER, Network 18, Cal Fire, the LA Fire Department, each dialysis provider, several Helplines and hotlines, Rx Open to locate operating pharmacies, the power companies, the California Emergency Operations Center, and a wildfire resource compendium from the HHS Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Information Gateway ASPR TRACIE. Find the list at https://kcercoalition.com/en/california-fires/.
AAKP will celebrate their 50th Anniversary on December 7, 2019 by initiating their first AAKP Annual Fun Walk. The formal celebration will take place in Tampa Bay FL with a one-mile walk, music, exhibitors, and family fun activities, but you can celebrate by yourself or as a team wherever you are, nationally, globally, or virtually, by staging your own Fun Walk. For details see https://aakp.org/programs-and-events/fun-walk/.
AAKP will present a November 13, 2019 webinar on The Veteran’s Perspective: AAKP’s Veteran’s Health Initiative, when AAKP Ambassadors and veterans discuss private sector kidney care for veterans, how to obtain VA (US Department of Veterans Affairs) assistance, and care across the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA. Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4555638814973772300. Find more information about the AAKP Veteran’s Health Initiative at https://aakp.org/center-for-patient-engagement-and-advocacy/veterans-health-initiative/.
UCLA’s CORE Kidney Program has announced the timing of their next several webinars, UKEEP meetings, and annual Kidney Fair at the Beach. They will present:
For more information on these and to RSVP, see https://www.uclahealth.org/core-kidney/upcoming-events.
Home Dialysis Central has published a new blog post describing various insurance plans and how individuals in various situations can manage them to minimize the cost of dialysis, called Fact Sheet on Health Plans & Tips to Save Money on Dialysis Health Care. Find the blog post at https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/334-fact-sheet-on-health-plans-tips-to-save-money-on-dialysis-health-care and a pdf poster of the table of plans/situations and tips, at https://homedialysis.org/documents/Health-Plan-Status-&-Tips-BW-10-25-2019.pdf.
Dialysis Patient Citizens will present a November 21, 2019 webinar on Treatments and Modality Options for Kidney Disease. For details see below, and register at https://www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/education-webinars/signup/.
