By Kelly Goss, J.D., LL.M., Western Region Advocacy Director Historically, health policy issues that impact End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients have largely been focused at the federal level since the vast majority of ESRD patients are on Medicare, a federally-run health insurance program, as their primary insurer. Hence, much of the decision-making with regard to ESRD policies has come either from Congress or from within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) since both have oversight of the Medicare program. However, in recent years, states have become more actively engaged in health policy legislation, in large part due [...]

By Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS, RWWP When your child has a chronic illness, hospitalizations and urgent care visits may become more frequent. Feeling prepared for these medical admissions can help ease anxiety and fear. Here are a few tips to help create a plan for your family. Emergency Visit Pack a bag that can easily be accessed during a medical crisis. The emergency go-bag should include extra clothes, comfort items, small toys, activities, snacks, phone charger, medical records, emergency contacts, pen and paper. Many families leave their go-bag in their car or have a specific location within their home. It can [...]