RSN Initiatives

About RSN Programs

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RSN Initiatives

weKAN: Wellness & Education Kidney Advocacy Network

Be an Advocate for Kidney Care
The Wellness & Education Kidney Advocacy Network (weKAN) consists of “patient activists” from across the country whose common goal is to ensure that people with CKD receive quality care. If you are a person who lives with kidney disease and would like to receive information about weKAN, please email weKAN@rsnhope.org.

weKAN Initiatives & Goals

To help bring the patient's perspective to issues impacting kidney patients such as:

February 24, 2010: Letter from National Kidney Stakeholders to President Obama, Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives - Regarding Support for Kidney Patient Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Provision in Final Health Care Reform Package - PDF

January 20th, 2010: Guide for Requesting a World Kidney Day Proclamation - PDF

December 10th, 2009: RSN's Comments to CMS about the Proposed Rule - PDF

October 23, 2009: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Town Hall Meeting: ESRD Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule - RSN Verbal Testimony - PDF

Assessment of the End Stage Renal Disease Network Program: Part II: Findings and Recommendations - PDF

Open Letter to President Barack Obama and Congress: Ways to Reduce Costs and Improve Care in the Kidney Program - PDF

Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Recipients Act S.565 & H.R. 1458 - RSN Summary - PDF

Letter to President-Barack Obama and Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (The Ten Point Plan: Renal Patient’s View on Healthcare Reform for People with Chronic Kidney Disease) - PDF

Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness & Education

Organ Donation Facts

Legislative Issues

Living Organ Donor Leave Act of 2009
H.R. 2776

Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Act of 2009
H.R. 1458 and S. 565

Living Organ Donor Tax Credit Act of 2009
H.R. 218

Be In The Know

Bundling of Dialysis Services
Legislation was passed that has required Centers for and Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) to Bundle services (treatment, labs, medications) of dialysis care into one payment. CMS has proposed a Rule on what this will look like. The community has 60 days to comment to CMS. CMS will review all comments and come back with a Final Rule. RSN encourages the community to get involved and comment to CMS on the risks and benefits.

Visit KidneyPublicPolicy101.com to join the discussion
One Page Flyer about KidneyPublicPolicy101.com (PDF)

MIPPA Proposed Rule - Released on September 15, 2009. The deadline for comments has been extended one month, comments are now due by December 16th, 2009. (PDF) (Word)

Listen to the KidneyTalk show Creating & Implementing the Rules for Dialysis with Mike Paget.

END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE CMS Should Monitor Effect of Bundled Payment on Home Dialysis Utilization Rates (PDF) United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report to Congressional Committees

Outpatient Dialysis Services Payment System (PDF from medpac.gov)

Medigap Policies Issues

Conditions of Coverage for Dialysis Final Rule

Anemia and Quality of Life

2007 Patient Survey Results

Charlie W. Norwood Living Organ Donation Act

RSN Statements to Agencies

Kidney Allocation Policy
OPTN/UNOS hosted a kidney allocation public forum on January 26, 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. This forum was to provide an opportunity for anyone who participates to learn more, ask questions, and state their opinions on these concepts.

Action Center