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Why Medicare’s Payment System Keeps New Dialysis Drugs from Reaching Patients

2025-05-07T13:39:04-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Costs for Treatment, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Medication, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Jackson Williams, DPC Vice President of Public Policy Payment bundling is a technique Medicare uses to increase efficiency and reduce low-value care during a treatment episode. Congress adopted a payment bundle for dialysis a decade ago and for several years it worked well. But trade-offs are inherent in bundles and there is always potential for a negative impact on consumers. This negative experience has arrived for dialysis patients in the form of non—prescribing of new drugs. Patients are missing out on improvements to their health and quality of life. A bundled payment sets a maximum price for all [...]

A Faithful Kidney Patient Caregiver’s Journey

2025-05-07T13:34:15-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Sheree Stephens, DPC Patient Ambassador I would describe being a kidney patient caregiver to my husband as inspiring, beautiful, and life changing. Ken has fought kidney failure for years, and I’ve stood beside him every step of the way. The journey can be, at times, stressful and tiring but with strong communication and a strong relationship with God, the journey is not nearly as overwhelming. When we met in 2010, he told me upfront his kidneys were failing. I heard him, but love doesn’t calculate risks. We built a life together, knowing challenges would come. In 2016, they [...]

Preventing Infections in Hemodialysis

2025-05-07T13:31:24-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Treatment|

Dr. Anil Agarwal, Nephrologist For patients undergoing hemodialysis, infection prevention is not just a recommendation, it’s a necessity. Hemodialysis patients have a compromised immune system and face a heightened risk of infections, which can affect their lives in a multitude of ways. Many suffer from bloodstream infections, which can lead to hospitalization and even life-threatening complications like sepsis. Catheter-related infections and skin infections near the vascular access site, also quite common, can put patients in the hospital as well. Any of these infections can delay hemodialysis patients’ upcoming kidney transplant. Luckily, with education and vigilance, patients can use [...]

Phosphorus: A Hidden Challenge in Dialysis

2025-05-07T13:30:08-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Medication, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Natalie Zuniga, DCP Board Vice President I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) – or kidney failure – soon after a heart attack seven years ago. Like many ESRD patients upon diagnosis, I immediately thought of my mortality and what my death would mean for my family. But I knew that kidney failure wasn’t a death sentence. My husband, Eddie, had been on dialysis for five years when I was diagnosed with ESRD, so he gave me a sense of what life with kidney failure would mean. Today, we navigate dialysis treatment together, including the strict [...]

Patience and Strength: A Caregiver’s Journey

2025-05-07T13:29:06-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Quality of Life, The Kidney Citizen, Treatment|

Christopher James, DPC Patient Ambassador Caring for a loved one with kidney failure requires confronting serious challenges, making significant sacrifices, and pushing through intense emotions. My name is Christopher James, and for years I have been a kidney patient caregiver to multiple family members, including my wife, Niesha Neal. Through my experience, I’ve learned that fulfilling the role of a kidney patient caregiver comes down to patience, perseverance, and love. My caregiving journey started with my brother, who began dialysis many years ago. With help from my background in biomedical technology, I took on the role of learning [...]

The Importance of Immunizations for People with Kidney Disease

2025-05-07T13:28:03-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Immunizations, Kidney Transplant, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Rebecca Schmidt, DO Jeffrey Silberzweig, MD Kristina Bryant, MD Written On Behalf of the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Community Vaccination Collaborative Introduction Living with kidney disease presents unique health challenges, including an increased susceptibility to infections. Immunizations play a crucial role in protecting people with kidney disease, including those on dialysis or with a kidney transplant, from preventable diseases. This article will discuss the importance of vaccines in general and those protecting against respiratory illness specifically, the risks associated with not being vaccinated, and concerns related to misinformation on vaccination decisions. [...]

Ask the Doctor May 2025

2025-05-07T13:27:31-04:00May 7th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, Hemodialysis, Kidney Transplant, Medication, Nutrition, Physical Health, Staying Healthy, The Kidney Citizen|

Velma Scantlebury, MD, DPC Education Center Health Care Consultant 1. What is the impact of phosphorus on kidney patients? For patients with kidney disease on dialysis, they are unable to remove excess phosphorus from the blood. This leads to high phosphorus levels, also known as hyperphosphatemia. Since dialysis does not remove phosphorus, it is important to limit foods high in phosphorus to avoid a build-up in various places in the body. Too much phosphorus results in the following: Bone and heart problems: Excess phosphorus causes your body to pull calcium out of your bones, making them weak and [...]

What About the Children?

2025-05-08T11:44:16-04:00April 24th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Kidney Transplant, News & Events, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy, Treatment|

The pandemic was devastating. Businesses closed and some never reopened! Students were taught virtually! Many people died! Many were afraid because of lack of finances and not knowing what the future held! But what about the children who had COVID and are now experiencing chronic kidney disease and other health diseases after having COVID? The following article was retrieved from a news release from Penn Medicine (pennmedicine.org) on April 21, 2025. Penn Medicine is a clinical and research entity of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) that is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read the full press release: Children face elevated [...]

Exercise: A Resolution or a Commitment?

2025-01-08T11:43:50-05:00January 8th, 2025|Categories: Dialysis, eNews, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Quality of Life, Staying Healthy|

Happy New Year! Happy New You! Many make new year resolutions that are difficult to keep or achieve. Let us make a commitment to exercise and eat nutritionally. Before beginning any changes in exercise and nutrition, please consult your physician! Exercise is important for so many reasons but do not think that you have to act like you are training for a marathon. Some of the best exercises can be done sitting in a chair! The following tips are retrieved from DaVita Kidney Care’s website (www.davita.com): Exercise for Dialysis Patients Many people on dialysis think they cannot exercise. The truth is, [...]

Diabetic Kidney Disease

2024-12-11T11:39:56-05:00December 11th, 2024|Categories: Dialysis, Early Intervention, eNews, Lifestyle, Physical Health, Staying Healthy, What Causes Kidney Disease|

The following information will focus on diabetic kidney disease and is taken from the National Institute of Health (www.niddk.nih.gov): What is diabetic kidney disease?  Diabetic kidney disease is a type of kidney disease caused by diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About 1 out of 3 adults with diabetes has kidney disease.1 The main job of the kidneys is to filter wastes and extra water out of your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also help control blood pressure and make hormones that your body needs to stay healthy. When your kidneys are damaged, they can’t filter blood like they should, which can cause wastes [...]

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