Cuts
Joined: 21 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 1:32 pm Post subject: Who said anything about....
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cuts? No one said to cut anything. What was said is that there should not be any more $$$$ thrown at the companies, even for inflation, until a full accountability is given. Let there be smaller profits until the companies can prove that they are not wasting nor just passing on the "profits" to the stockholders. As one who works in this industry, I am sick and tired of being told to do more with less while I read about the "huge" profits my company makes by re-selling EPO and running their own labs. I am sick and tired of reading of the outrageous salaries that the top administrators make. More $$$$ than most people will see in their lifetimes! I'd like to see those profits channeled back into the units for patient/ staff education, quality supplies, equipment and other things that would make our job easier and improve the lives of my patients. I am tired of the company telling me that we "owe it to the stockholders to make a profit"! Let the stockholders and the top administrators take a cut and earn a decent wage, not the outrageous amounts we have seen over and over again!<
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>Ethics has always been a part of health care. The dialysis industry is a horrible example of ethics gone bad. If they really did care about the patients and had kept them first and foremost, we wouldn't have this problem.<
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>Bill, you are an exception and do not represent the average dialysis patient. Just because NKC may not adjust their protocols to make extra $$$ off their patients does not mean that your area is a true representation of what goes on out there. I and others like me are concerned about the WHOLE picture out there. I know that NKC is a non-profit and they may be having some problems. But the for-profits are a big problem and unfortunately until they are
ought back into line, the non-profits will suffer some. Maybe if they put pressure on the for-profits, this could be resloved much faster. Or maybe there needs to be a different reimbursement for non-profit vs for-profit.
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All in this together
Joined: 21 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 4:30 pm Post subject: Remember reading
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Clearly remember reading that if the non-profits were not going to help with the outrageous antics of the non-profits, that this situation would never affect them. Guess what it has happened.<
>This industry and not for profits have stood by and watched others clean up this area of med. It appears that the job went to others. Others could care less.<
>I remember back when this board started and no one would help. Didnt want to ruin it for ourselves they said. Then they said not our problem. Well the day of reckoning has arrived. It is affecting the not for profits and they are still not wanting to help the others. They will be monopolized out of the market. Patients could be resold to a national company at anytime. They own the market.<
>If it isnt good for the masses, the not for profits have to roll up their sleeves to clean this up.<
>If it is not good for one, it is everyones job. Only to take care of oneself has caused this. Accountability needs to happen. Just my opinion. <
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good news
Joined: 21 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 5:44 pm Post subject: Medicare drug bill includes inflation adjustment
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The bill includes two Medicare provisions which Camp has championed. <
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>The bill includes legislation that Camp introduced to provide permanent drug coverage for transplant recipients on Medicare. Currently, when a Medicare beneficiary receives an organ transplant, permanent Medicare law only provides immunosuppressive drug coverage for 3 years. So, many Medicare beneficiaries lose coverage of the essential drugs that are needed to maintain their transplant. <
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>?Given that organs are extremely scarce, Federal law should not compromise the success of organ transplantation. Yet that is exactly what current Medicare policy does, because Medicare denies certain transplant patients coverage for the drugs needed to prevent rejection. This bill fixes that problem,? said Camp. <
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>This bill also includes legislation introduced by Camp to provide a fair reimbursement rate to Renal Dialysis Facilities. These facilities are imperative to individuals suffering from kidney failure. The bill will help ensure that dialysis facilities can continue to provide quality health care to the 300,000 Medicare beneficiaries with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Without dialysis treatments, that clean the blood of toxins or transplantation, ESRD is invariably fatal. <
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>?I don?t believe anyone should have to have to travel long distances to receive their three-times-a-week dialysis care because dialysis providers will have not received adequate funding from Medicare. Without this legislation many small facilities would have to close,? said Camp.<
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Curious
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 39
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 7:43 pm Post subject: Transplants
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That is an issue that is important. However the ESRD Medicare transplants and conditions in the clinics are seperate issues. This should be supported as with homehemo, choices and industry accountability. <
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>That is different than throwing more money into the streets to an industry that when having patients gives them substandard care and are not accountable to anyone other than themselves.Not everyone is transplantable. For one the biggest number of issues are on the side of no rights and fear of patients of retaliation and death.<
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>I would support transplant drugs and have been screaming that message along with our others. However, my aim is to get this industry cleaned up and not throw more money into the clinics, until they are held accountable and the industry has not the power to guess at statistics and self police. But I would support the transplant drugs and home hemo programs.<
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>I am concerned about those that no one is addressing and that is the corruption in this industry. No one else has addressed this for 30 years plus. We will continue to move in that direction in the next hearings on the house side on issues of concern that we have been striving for. It was the ESRD Networks job,but it didnt happen.Personally this is where my focus is....patient rights, safety and freedom of retaliation and to make this industry accountable. <
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Marty
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 160
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2003 3:30 am Post subject: The money issue
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Bill, I agree with you in regards to the reimbursement issue. Accountability and reimbursements shouldn't be plotted against each other. Less reimbursement will not create accountability no matter how you cut it. If inflation isn't dealt with, it will more than likely result in even less for the patients. We do live in a capitalistic society and rather we agree or disagree profit will be the bottom line. I don't know where some people get their thinking but I do know having owned a business; not one of my customers could tell me not to raise my prices and still expect to get the same service. If I felt I had to do this I would have started buying cheaper material and cut down on my time spent putting quality into the product. If this didn't work; it's simple I would close shop. Accountability has to forced through lawsuits; public awareness and Standards of Care. I also think it's just a tad arrogant of patients to assume that they should have right to tell any stockholder what they should get on return of investment. No I don't own any stock in any dialysis company.
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plugger
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 226
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:03 am Post subject: Great news!
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We were wondering
how things were going to work out with the transplant drug coverage when my daughter is no longer covered on my insurance (she is going to school). It sounds like if the worst happens, and she can't find a job soon she should be able to get Medicare. At least I hope that is what this means. Fantastic News!
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Transplants will happen
Joined: 24 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:40 am Post subject: Now that the microscope is on the industry
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I feel that with the new awareness of transplants, that public awareness will help
ing that to the forefront.
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Another Solution
Joined: 25 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 6:35 am Post subject: Reimbursement
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Instead of non support of raising the reimbursement which would affect the good as well as the bad why not just lobby for fines or sanctions to be paid by the bad dialysis centers. This would also affect profit.
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Have been
Joined: 25 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:35 am Post subject: lobby
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We have been in support and have lobbied for fines since 98. That is where the patient will have the most protection is in the unit. But inspectors were ill trained in 98. I think the part that frustrates me the most that the government was aware of all the issues in 98 and nothing was done. Now 5 1/2 years later nothing still has been done, and no safety net was ever put in place. Just more inspections and lives lost due to doing nothing since 98. My trust is limited with the government now all of a sudden during election year to make minor changes,if only another horse and pony show, they need to take hard action first.<
>However, until the ESRD Networks are crippled for not doing their job, this will do nothing. As with myself the clinic was informed from the Network that I had filed a complaint, and they had ample time to clean up. When the inspection came down the inspectors were clueless on what to inspect.<
>My matra has been since 98 to make this industry accountable in sanctions and fines. Patients were told that if they complained they may shut down the units, so patients dont complain to the Red Cross when they leave them with the guards. So I am afraid that the industry needs to be accountable first. <
>We need to sanction the wrong doers and take away patient complaints, and the voluntary giving of information to the Networks. The ESRD Networks need to be accountable as well. In other words until this industry is made accountable at all levels and a fair playing field until then nothing will change. More money is not the answer. For home hemo programs I would support and will support as with the transplant drugs,as I have in the past. But until the money goes for care, you are just throwing more money to a bad thing. Lots of clinics know that this is correct,only they have stayed silent. Sanctions are not enough, the patients need a neutral enity to complain to. Break up the industry hold and CMS needs to protect the patients. I can see paying more for clinics that have been giving their patients care and proper treatment. I think they should have to earn it.<
>Arlene
