Dialysis Patient Citizens

History

Dialysis Patient Citizens was founded in 2004 with stated goals including advocating for self-care, fostering and strengthening partnerships among patients and caregivers, achieving adequate dialysis-related funding, and ensuring up-to-date, optimal clinical protocols.

For the past two years, DPC has focused on health reform including lobbying in support of HR 6331 and The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA). Currently they are attempting to misrepresent the most recent changes to CMS regulations to make it more favorable for the large dialysis groups and private insurance companies to make more money.

Membership

Currently, DPC has 28,000 members. Membership is free and open to dialysis and pre-dialysis patients and their families. Members have the opportunity to take part in guiding the organization’s policies and mission.

Organization

DPC is a patient-led organization. The Board of Directors is made up of mostly patients currently on dialysis or who have been on dialysis, but now have a kidney transplant. Through membership surveys, DPC members can help set the organization’s advocacy and education priorities. Membership can also provide input into the organization’s Board-approved public policies. The national organization is overseen by a Board of Directors, which is currently headed by Eric Edwards. Board members are elected to two year terms. DPC’s bylaws require the majority of its Board to be current dialysis patients.

Goals

The stated long-term goals of DPC are to be an organization that plays an advisory role to the United States Congress, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and dialysis providers and that works to achieve superior education for dialysis and pre-dialysis patients.

Lobbying

In 2008, DPC hosted 160 Congressional meetings, two Capitol Hill Fly-ins, and sent out more than 2,100 emails to Congress in support of HR 6331.

On July 15, 2008, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate overrode the President’s veto of HR 6331, The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA). Measures included in this bill included CKD education and prevention programs, a revision to the payment methodology for end stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment, and an inflationary payment update.

Patient Ambassadors

DPC Patient Ambassadors are volunteers throughout the United States to advocate on kidney care issues. DPC educates Patient Ambassadors on how to advocate for dialysis patients through quarterly Patient Ambassador Leadership Seminars and Monthly Patient Ambassador Meetings. DPC has held Patient Ambassador Meetings on topics including pandemic flu, transplantation, Medicare Part D, and health disparities.

State Dialysis Days

DPC State Dialysis Days are held throughout the year in various states. DPC Patient Ambassadors, dialysis patients or family members of dialysis patients, and DPC Staff meet with state legislators at the State Capitols to educate lawmakers about matters of importance to dialysis care. DPC has participated in state advocacy in Arizona, California, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Indiana.