many and diverse agendas, only a unifying set for all by Congress could “players” “target” improve patient employment and rehabilitation. 5-year focus and thrust on increasing patient employment Congress needs to provide financial incentives to increase employment, technology development, and a diversity of approaches. The most obvious incentives are to extend the MSP period for employed patients and to provide tax breaks to employers of dialysis patients. Consider other criteria for extending the MSP period. Establish a balanced, 4-quadrant patient-centered care (patients, government, corporate, medical professionals). Redefine the function of the ESRD program as a renal rehabilitation program. REQUESTS TO CONGRESS: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVING DIALYSIS CARE Hold congressional hearings as soon as possible to set a new, corrective direction for the entire system of dialysis care. Expose the dysfunctional system, the parties involved, and the system’s problems Begin by asking all involved parties why the original intent of the federal program, patient employment and re/habilitation, has been ignored. Ask why patient-specific employment data isn’t tracked over time and published in any of these databases: USRDS, DOPPS, CMS, and Forum of ESRD Networks? Ask the leaders of this medical/industrial complex what therapy they would choose for themselves Ask if CMS’s quality improvement programs are playing a role in improving patients’ health-related quality of life Hear testimony from the most frustrated patients and medical professionals, as well as the most successful patients. Have patients and professionals testify on the benefits of employment and re/habilitation. Instead of calling for more medical studies, embrace a sense” solution based “common on patient employment and re/habilitation Recognize that only Congress can change the direction and activities of all involved parties in the system of care As a starting point, Congress should insist on a 5-year coordinated push by all involved parties to increase patient employment. Possible actions: Extend the Medicare Secondary (MSP) period when patients are kept employed. (This will REDUCE Medicare costs.) Provide tax breaks/credits to companies that employ dialysis patients and provide health insurance Dialysis patients and other collecting disability insurance income based upon being 100% disabled should be able to attempt to return to the workforce without the fear of losing their disability insurance income if their employment gets interrupted due to their disability.
many “players” and diverse agendas, only a unifying “target” set for all by Congress could improve patient employment and rehabilitation. 5-year focus and thrust on increasing patient employment Congress needs to provide financial incentives to increase employment, technology development, and a diversity of approaches. The most obvious incentives are to extend the MSP period for employed patients and to provide tax breaks to employers of dialysis patients. Consider other criteria for extending the MSP period. Establish a balanced, 4-quadrant patient-centered care (patients, government, corporate, medical professionals). Redefine the function of the ESRD program as a renal rehabilitation program. REQUESTS TO CONGRESS: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVING DIALYSIS CARE Hold congressional hearings as soon as possible to set a new, corrective direction for the entire system of dialysis care. Expose the dysfunctional system, the parties involved, and the system’s problems Begin by asking all involved parties why the original intent of the federal program, patient employment and re/habilitation, has been ignored. Ask why patient-specific employment data isn’t tracked over time and published in any of these databases: USRDS, DOPPS, CMS, and Forum of ESRD Networks? Ask the leaders of this medical/industrial complex what therapy they would choose for themselves Ask if CMS’s quality improvement programs are playing a role in improving patients’ health-related quality of life Hear testimony from the most frustrated patients and medical professionals, as well as the most successful patients. Have patients and professionals testify on the benefits of employment and re/habilitation. Instead of calling for more medical studies, embrace a “common sense” solution based on patient employment and re/habilitation Recognize that only Congress can change the direction and activities of all involved parties in the system of care As a starting point, Congress should insist on a 5-year coordinated push by all involved parties to increase patient employment. Possible actions: Extend the Medicare Secondary (MSP) period when patients are kept employed. (This will REDUCE Medicare costs.) Provide tax breaks/credits to companies that employ dialysis patients and provide health insurance Dialysis patients and other collecting disability insurance income based upon being 100% disabled should be able to attempt to return to the workforce without the fear of losing their disability insurance income if their employment gets interrupted due to their disability.