Starting January 1, 2007, Medicare will provide more coverage for services that affect people with diabetes. The attached new tip sheet on Important New Updates to Medicare’s Diabetes-related Covered Services in 2007 is also available on the web at: www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/downloads/diabetesupdate.pdf

Also, the week of November 27 to December 3 has been designated 2006 National Influenza Vaccination Week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to emphasize the importance of influenza vaccination and the need to continue vaccination activities into December and January. For more information, click the link " Don't Let the Flu Ruin Your Holidays! or click on "Frosty Flu Man" at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/.

Of the 36,000 people in the U.S. who die on average each year from influenza and complications of the virus, greater than 90 percent of deaths occur in persons 65 years of age and older. Please help us spread the word to individuals with Medicare patients about the importance of getting their annual flu shot - influenza vaccination is a covered Part B benefit.

For a complete list and details of Medicare’s preventive services, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PrevntionGenInfo/ Or go to http://www.medicare.gov and select “Preventive Services” and order your free copy of “Guide to Medicare’s Preventive Services” by selecting “Find a Medicare Publication."

New recommendations designed to increase early diagnosis of HIV infection as a pathway to improved treatment and prevention

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today published new recommendations for health care providers that are designed to make voluntary HIV screening a routine part of medical care for all patients aged 13 to 64. The recommendations aim to simplify the HIV testing process in health care settings and increase early HIV diagnosis among the estimated more than 250,000 HIV-positive Americans who are unaware of their infection. The recommendations also include new measures to improve diagnosis among pregnant women and further reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission. The Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health Care Settings were published today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Read more...

We hope you find the information helpful.

State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health: Flu Vaccine Letter 2006
CDC: Key Facts About Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
AAP Flu Policy: Recommendations for Influenza Immunization for Children

The site also includes a new library, which contains past and present published information from AAKP; pages dedicated to chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis, transplant and pediatric kidney disease information; and AAKP Chapter events going on across the country.

Go to CMS Publications mailing list at http://pubordering.cms.hhs.gov/mailinglist/ or you can
Call 1-800-MEDICARE.

The Convention brochure is now available and includes a registration form and detailed agenda, along with information on dialysis arrangements and travel discounts. To request a copy of the brochure, or to register for the Convention, please contact the AAKP National Office at (800) 749-2257 or visit www.aakp.org.

Read the complete MedWatch 2006 Safety summary, including links to the Firm's recall press release at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2006/safety06.htm#tacrolimus

The maps show centers from the Home Dialysis Central database that are actively training patients. Each dot on the map represents a 120-mile radius (about a 2-hour drive) around each site of care. New maps were needed because the number of daily home hemodialysis centers increased by 106% (from 47 to 97), and nocturnal home hemodialysis centers by 39% (from 71 to 99), since June 2005.

The maps are useful for:
Patients and family members - to see which centers are in their area. A home dialysis center doesn't have to be nearby, since patients only visit once a month after training.
Dialysis providers - to make a business case for a new treatment or center site.
Researchers - to document U.S. home dialysis coverage.

Physicians, hospitals and ambulance services that provide emergency health services to undocumented aliens should be aware that The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) (Section 1011) provides $250 million each year, for Fiscal Years (FY) 2005-2008, for payments to eligible providers for emergency health services given to undocumented and other specified aliens. You may not be receiving funds that are available to you for services you furnish to undocumented aliens. We have prepared a Special Edition article to inform and/or remind you about these available funds. Please click on the following url for more details:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0633.pdf

The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) is extending a one-time opportunity to order bulk quantities of the materials below free of charge. Yes, free. We hope these educational materials will be useful to you and your clients. To order these materials, simply complete the order form.

The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) is an information dissemination service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of eight health agencies of the Public Health Service, which is under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Medicare’s highest priority is making sure that Part D beneficiaries have access to the drugs they need. Millions of prescriptions are being filled every day, with Medicare drug plans generally covering a broader range of drugs than many public and private health insurance plans.

Medicare drug plans have preferred drugs and prior authorization requirements to promote safe and effective drug use and to avoid unnecessary costs. To help ensure smooth transitions to drugs that are covered, and to allow beneficiaries time to obtain exceptions to these requirements when clinically appropriate, Medicare called on plans to implement a three-month initial transitional period for Medicare prescription drug coverage.

For more information and material regarding the transitional period attached please click on the following links:

CMS Fact Sheet :
www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=1817

"Getting Drugs After Your Transition" : www.medicare.gov/WhatIfTransition_option2.pdf

Mission: To promote effective interchange between patients, families, caregivers, payers, and providers in support of integrated patient-centered end-of-life care for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

www.kidneyeol.org

TAMPA, Fla. – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) honored H. Keith Johnson, MD, with its Medal of Excellence during the 11th Annual Medal of Excellence Award Dinner. The dinner was held Sunday, March 19, in Baltimore, to recognize Dr. Johnson for his significant contributions to nephrology and transplantation.

The 2006 AAKP Medal of Excellence Award Dinner, held in conjunction with the Renal Physicians Association’s Annual Meeting, received an overwhelming response with an attendance of more than 140 people. “AAKP is honored to have recognized Dr. Johnson for his nationwide achievements in the renal community,” said Brenda Dyson, president of AAKP. “Dr. Johnson has changed the world of nephrology with his vision to improve quality in every aspect of patient care.”

During the ceremony, AAKP celebrated the accomplishments of Dr. Johnson with poignant presentations by Thomas Peters, MD, and 2005 Medal of Excellence recipient, John Sadler, MD. For nearly four decades, Dr. Johnson has made noteworthy contributions to nephrology and transplantation, while devoting his career to patients. He is the founding and principal nephrologist for Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI), the only large non-profit dialysis organization in the U.S., dedicated to the care of renal patients. Dr. Johnson’s legendary leadership has allowed DCI to commit more than $100 million to research, education and non-profit activities. A key contribution for which Dr. Johnson is known started in 1975 when he and his wife, Nancy, founded Camp Okawehna, a week long summer experience for children with kidney disease.

The Medal of Excellence Award was created to honor a renal physician who has dedicated his or her career to improving the lives of kidney patients. A panel of renal community peers reviewed the nominations and selected Dr. Johnson as this year’s recipient of AAKP’s most prestigious award.

“Land grab.”

That’s how a top executive with a leading disease management company recently described what DM and provider organizations are gearing up for as the ongoing Medicare-sponsored disease management demonstration projects – designed to test DM concepts with the Medicare FFS population – begin to document their results.

It is just a matter of time now until 15 million Medicare recipients become fair game for DM providers, and your competitors are racing to stake their claim in this massive new market.

Your organization must begin preparing NOW to make sure you get your share of this massive marketplace, and to make sure you are ready for the many clinical, operational, regulatory, and business challenges you are sure to face.

That’s why National Health Information is offering a free trial to our newest newsletter, Medicare Disease Management, the FIRST and ONLY publication devoted to helping you successfully navigate this uncharted territory. Each monthly issue is filled with detailed clinical guidance, success strategies and case studies, business models, contracting opportunities, compliance advice, proven program management initiatives, and much more! Our veteran team of journalists and DM experts gives you a key competitive edge in the battle for market share -- and in the struggle for positive outcomes and ROI in the senior population.

We are offering our customers a $50 discount and a three-issue free trial subscription. To request a free trial, order online at nhionline.net or call 800-597-6300. Please mention offer “MDME46.”

The Medicare Learning Network is pleased to announce a new name for its very popular Medicare fee-for-service provider education articles.

Click here for all of the details—
www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0620.pdf

The Kidney Medicare Drugs Awareness and Education Initiative has developed a Compare Drug Plans packet (www.kidneydrugcoverage.org/choose.htm), which will update its formularies monthly. Medicare updates the Drug Plan Finder and Formulary Finder at www.medicare.gov on the first Monday of each month.

The current version of the Compare Drug Plans packet is available on www.kidneydrugcoverage.org and was updated on Wednesday, March 15, 2006. This packet includes a FAQ on how drugs and plans were chosen, search tips, and two charts that allow you to search for what drugs a specific plan covers (by plan) and what plans cover a specific drug (by drug).

We hope that the updated packet will save you time when educating your patients. Look for other labor-saving tools, educational materials for patients and professionals, resources or links, and much more on www.kidneydrugcoverage.org.

TAMPA, Fla. – In conjunction with National Kidney Month in March, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) and the Medical Education Institute, Inc., (MEI) announce a new partnership effort to identify and implement quality of life measurements with the goal of improving patient outcomes in the more than 300,000 Americans on dialysis. The new initiative joins the strengths of both organizations in a push for improved kidney care quality and accountability.

“AAKP has a longstanding focus on both quality of life and quality of dialysis care. This initiative, for AAKP, is part of a larger strategy that encompasses numerous educational programs and initiatives to use quality of life markers to improve patients’ overall well-being. It’s time for patients to be a key part of the dialog and to help set the targets that define a high caliber of quality dialysis care,” says AAKP Executive Director and CEO Kris Robinson. “We approached MEI to work with us on this important project because they have always championed the importance of clinical outcomes and they hold the belief that quality of life indicators lead to better health outcomes.”

“I believe that the exclusive focus of the kidney community on blood test values as quality indicators does not account for the many other outcome measures that contribute to patient well-being – such as how active patients can be, their quality of life and whether they are employed if they are working-age,” says MEI Executive Director Dori Schatell, MS. “Our combined efforts will drive a more patient-driven and person-centered approach, based on assessment of physical activity and emotional well-being, which are associated with morbidity and mortality. We’re delighted to be working with the AAKP on this effort, because AAKP represents a national patient voice and has tremendous credibility in the community.”

In the late spring, a multidisciplinary, invitation-only meeting will be held to identify and address ways to incorporate quality measures into the renal community. A report of joint recommendations and next steps will be released later this year.

WHEN
The proceedings of the Conference are now available in the "Journal of Palliative Medicine", a bimonthly print and online publication that reports on the clinical, educational, legal, and ethical aspects of care for seriously ill and dying patients.

WHERE
The supplement is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/jpm.
Additional information regarding the Conference and the Proceedings can be obtained from Lanny Newman, Public Affairs Officer, NINR, 301-496-0209, newmanl@mail.nih.gov.

Understanding Your Peritoneal Dialysis Options discusses the peritoneal dialysis process from start to finish, including how a dialysis access is placed, how it should be properly cared for, and the benefits and drawbacks of each type of treatment. An overview of each treatment option is provided along with a description of how dialysis is performed.

The brochure also features a Self-Assessment Tool, which includes 10 questions a potential patient should answer and take to their physician to help decide if peritoneal dialysis may fit into their health and lifestyle needs.

AAKP created this brochure to inform and educate current and potential dialysis patients and their loved ones. AAKP would like to thank Baxter Healthcare Corporation for its generous support of the development and distribution of this brochure.

For more information or to order complimentary copies, contact AAKP at (800) 749-2257 or info@aakp.org. The brochure is also available to download at www.aakp.org.

AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 35 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.