femmocrat
femmocrat's JournalToday's Google Doodle: Who invented the ballpoint pen?
More at link: https://www.google.com/doodles/ladislao-jose-biros-117th-birthday
Call to action! Please contact your reps about extending Immunosuppressive Drugs for kidney patients
** This coverage is urgently needed for transplant recipients.** Thank you for your help and support! femmocrat
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On September 22nd, Representatives Burgess (R-TX), Kind (D-WI), Harper (R-MI), Meehan (R-PA), Herrerra Beutler (R-WA), Cooper (D-TN), Griffith (R-VA), and McDermott (D-WA) re-introduced the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act (H.R. 6139). H.R. 6139 will serve as a safety net by assisting kidney transplant recipients obtain the life-saving immunosuppressive medications that are necessary to maintain the viability of their new transplant.
Individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), who require dialysis or a transplant to survive, are eligible for Medicare regardless of age or other disability. If these ESRD patients remain on dialysis, there is no time limit on their Medicare eligibility. However, despite quality of life benefits and the cost-effectiveness associated with transplantation compared to kidney dialysis, recipients who are not aged or disabled retain Medicare eligibility only for 36 months following their transplant. As a result, they often face the challenge of finding affordable coverage that allows them to obtain medications required to maintain their new kidney. If the transplanted kidney fails, they must return to dialysis and wait again in the hopes of receiving another transplant. Both of these options are more costly and more detrimental to patient health than maintaining the new kidney.
The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act would extend Medicare for immunosuppressive medications indefinitely, ensuring patients have access to these lifesaving medications. Only immunosuppressive coverage would be extended and all other Medicare coverage would end 36 months post-transplant, as it does now. The legislation also requires group health plans to maintain coverage of immunosuppressive drugs if they presently include this benefit. By supporting lifetime immunosuppressive coverage, Congress will help improve long-term transplant outcomes, reduce the number of kidney patients who require another transplant, and enable more patients to choose transplantation.
**Please contact your Representatives and urge them to cosponsor the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act to help transplant recipients keep access the medications they need to maintain their new kidney.**
“Extending Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients is a critical step to ensuring a patient’s best chance of success post-transplant.” – Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation
Today is Google's 18th birthday!
Happy Birthday, Google!
However, not even Google seems to really know when it was formed. Since 2006, it has celebrated its birthday on September 27, but the year before that, had it as September 26.
See more history at link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/09/26/when-is-googles-birthday/
Happy Birthday, Google!
The company, founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998, traditionally marks its birthday on the Google homepage on September 27.
However, not even Google seems to really know when it was formed. Since 2006, it has celebrated its birthday on September 27, but the year before that, had it as September 26.
More history at link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/09/26/when-is-googles-birthday/
Today's Google Doodle: Register to vote!
Today's Google Doodle: Register to Vote!
About the Doodle: http://searchengineland.com/register-vote-google-doodle-marks-national-voter-registration-day-259620
With the words “Register to Vote” animated to reflect a variety of languages, the doodle is posted only on the U.S. homepage and leads to a search for “How to register to vote.”
The doodle’s “How to register to vote” search page surfaces Google’s voter registration tool on mobile and desktop, listing voter registration directions for each state, requirements needed to vote, and registration deadlines.
Today's Google Doodle: Register to Vote!
About the Doodle: http://searchengineland.com/register-vote-google-doodle-marks-national-voter-registration-day-259620
With the words “Register to Vote” animated to reflect a variety of languages, the doodle is posted only on the U.S. homepage and leads to a search for “How to register to vote.”
The doodle’s “How to register to vote” search page surfaces Google’s voter registration tool on mobile and desktop, listing voter registration directions for each state, requirements needed to vote, and registration deadlines.
Happy Cooking Day!
Today was my mother's birthday. She would be 92 today. She was a fabulous cook!
News from the National Kidney Foundation about Medicare coverage: FYI
On September 21, 2016, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 5659, the Expanding Seniors Receiving Dialysis Choice Act or ESRD Choice Act. The 423-0 vote included 242 Republicans and 181 Democrats.
Starting in 2020, this bill will give individuals with kidney failure access to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. It will also require education for individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD) to aid them in making informed decisions about MA coverage. Since the MA program was created in 2003, ESRD patients are the only group specifically denied the option to enroll in these plans (currently Medicare beneficiaries who have Chronic Kidney Disease can enroll in MA and can remain in their MA plan after they progress to ESRD). Removing government restrictions that prevent ESRD patients from enrolling in MA plans will allow ESRD beneficiaries the same freedom of choice in coverage as other Medicare enrollees. Allowing ESRD patients to select these plans may help some patients minimize their out-of-pocket expenses and access additional benefits that some MA plans provide like transportation and dental.
Thank you to the nearly 700 people who supported kidney patients and NKF by reaching out to their Representatives.
Next steps: While the House has passed this bill, it still needs to be considered in the Senate. At this time, there is no Senate companion bill to H.R. 5659 but given the overwhelming support in the House, it is likely that there will be movement on this issue later this Congress.
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On edit: I am posting FYI only. I am not an expert on any of the details. 
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