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Illinois dialysis patients threatened by proposed Medicaid cuts - WLS-TV |
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WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- Proposed budget cuts to Medicaid threaten to have a big impact effect on some kidney patients in Illinois who rely on dialysis to survive. It comes as state Democrats are expected to advance their own budget proposal, one that Republicans are calling "unbalanced."
The dialysis centers treat some of the most fragile patients in the state's health care system. Now, they are threatened by the Illinois budget crisis.
For patients at the DaVita Kidney Dialysis Center in Waukegan, four-hour treatments three times a week are the difference between life and death.
"I try to be positive. I understand what I'm battling but I don't let that affect my life," said Ken Mayo, a dialysis patient.
Ninety percent of dialysis patients receive some degree of support from either federal or state programs. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposal to cut Medicaid reimbursements could cause dozens of treatment centers to close.
"The problem with this is there are a number of dialysis centers across the state of Illinois that don't make a profit. They lose money," said Penny Davis, of DaVita Dialysis.
Facing a $6 billion deficit for next fiscal year, the governor has targeted the Medicaid program for $1.5 billion in cuts. In Springfield, dialysis providers said if their programs are not spared, patients will end up in more expensive hospital emergency rooms.
"Medicaid cuts to dialysis will only shift costs to commercial insurance programs where folks hope you won't notice them," said Jackson Williams, of Dialysis Patients Citizens.
Democratic lawmakers who hold the majority in both chambers of the general assembly say they'll send the governor a budget plan with a $3 billion shortfall. They want Rauner to recommend a tax increase to restore cuts to programs like Medicaid.
U.S. Congressman Bob Dold, who toured the center in Waukegan Tuesday afternoon, saw the life and death treatments up close and wants the politicians in Springfield to recognize the seriousness.
"Republicans, Democrats: put the partisanship aside and focus on the people," Rep. Dold said.
The deadline for the General Assembly to come up with a budget is May 31 at midnight. The governor sticks by his demand for reforms before any tax increases.
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15000 renal failure cases reported in KSA - Arab News |
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JEDDAH: There are nearly 15,000 renal failure patients in the Kingdom and two-third of them undergo dialysis, said Dr. Mohammed Al-Aumi, supervisor of King Salman Kidney Center in Riyadh.
Addressing a workshop organized by the Health Ministry for enhancing public awareness on kidney related diseases, he said renal failure cases are spreading all over the world.
“More than 600 million people around the world currently suffer from kidney diseases and they account for 14.2 percent of global population,” Al-Aumi told participants.
“It’s a silent disease that creeps into all parts of body and we’ll know its symptoms only after sometime,” he pointed out.
Al-Aumi underscored the ministry’s efforts to combat renal diseases. “It promotes public awareness to take precautions against the disease. These kinds of meetings help experts develop effective precautionary measures.”
He stressed the importance of conducting regular checkups in order to avoid complications. “Awareness programs will help relatives of patients to understand the best methods to deal with patients.”
Daleel Ghazi Al-Shammari spoke about the importance of educating patients and their families about the impact of kidney diseases and the need to correct their wrong notions.
“Every member of the society should know about it,” she said while highlighting the dangerous consequences of the disease.
The awareness program aims at informing the public about kidney functions and how its failure would affect a person’s health. Diabetes, obesity and blood pressure could lead to renal failure.
“The program also aims at encouraging the public to adopt a hygienic lifestyle, keeping away from smoking, reducing bodyweight, doing physical exercise and taking a balanced diet,” she said.
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Young Council delegation to travel to Sydney to fight Cowra renal unit decision - ABC Online |
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Updated May 27, 2015 08:44:11
The Young Shire Council is fighting the Murrumbidgee Local Health District's decision for a satellite renal unit to be installed in Cowra rather than Young.
The announcement earlier this month led to anger in Young.
Mayor, John Walker, says the community is upset, even though a new renal unit at Cowra will be an improvement on the current two and a half hour trip to Canberra.
The local community raised a lot of funds between 2005 and 2009 to have the self-managed renal service, understanding that it was the first step in a satellite service in Young. The local community are rather upset about it.
Young Shire Mayor, John Walker
"Well it's very disappointing to us as council, and as a member of the Local Health Advisory Committee, that they didn't keep us informed all the way through," he said.
"I got no clear message that the budget was allocated or that it was going away.
"I know the plans had been drawn up, I knew they were seeking funding and that's the last definite information that we received from the Minister or from Murrumbidgee Health."
A petition is circulating in Young, but Councillor Walker says it is hoped for a faster political response today.
Councillor Walker says Cootamundra MP, Katrina Hodgkinson, will raise the issue with Health Minister, Jillian Skinner, even though his request to meet the minister was rejected.
"That's very disappointing to me as a representative of the community," he said.
"The minister hopefully will listen to our local member but we'll have a second chance on Wednesday when the minister will be presenting to a delegation from the Central West who are going down to Parliament House to meet with a few ministers, Minister Skinner will be one of those ministers."
Councillor Walker says residents have long supported better renal services in the town.
"The local community raised a lot of funds between 2005 and 2009 to have the self-managed renal service, understanding that it was the first step in a satellite service in Young," he said.
"The local community are rather upset about it."
Topics: activism-and-lobbying, local-government, healthcare-facilities, liver-and-kidneys, regional, young-2594, cowra-2794, wagga-wagga-2650, orange-2800
First posted May 27, 2015 07:11:39
More stories from New South Wales
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Teleflex to Present at the 52nd European Renal, Dialysis and Transplant ... - Finances.com |
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Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX) , a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care, urology and surgery, will showcase its range of interventional products at the 52nd European Renal, Dialysis and Transplant Congress in London on May 28 – 31, 2015.
During the event, Teleflex will highlight its Arrow(R) chronic hemodialysis catheter portfolio, which offers both split-tip and step-tip catheters for both retrograde and antegrade insertion techniques.
The Arrow(R) NextStep(R) Retrograde and Antegrade product family consists of step-tip catheters that can easily be inserted and tunneled using retrograde or antegrade technique, respectively. These step-tip catheters also have the advantage of split-tip high flow characteristics. The step-tip on these catheters is designed for smooth, over-the-wire transitions during insertions and exchanges. The Arrow(R) Cannon(R) II Plus and Arrow Edge(R) products are split-tip catheters that can be tunneled using retrograde or antegrade technique, respectively.
Teleflex will also anticipate the upcoming availability of the new ARROW-ClarkTM VectorFlowTM hemodialysis catheter. The ARROW-ClarkTM VectorFlowTM catheter (available in both retrograde and antegrade insertion platforms) is a symmetrical tip tunneled hemodialysis catheter that is designed to reduce loss of lock solution, give sustained high flows, minimise recirculation and reduce the risk of thrombus accumulation due to platelet activation resulting from shear stress.
About Teleflex Incorporated
Teleflex is a leading global provider of specialty medical devices for a range of procedures in critical care, urology and surgery. Our mission is to provide solutions that enable healthcare providers to improve outcomes and enhance patient and provider safety. Headquartered in Wayne, PA, Teleflex employs approximately 12,200 people and serves healthcare providers worldwide. Additional information about Teleflex can be obtained from the company’s website at teleflex.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on our management’s current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results or company actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. These risks and uncertainties are identified and described in more detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Teleflex, Arrow, ARROW-Clark, Arrow Edge, Cannon, NextStep and VectorFlow are trademarks or registered (in the U.S. and/or other countries) trademarks of Teleflex Incorporated or its affiliates. (c) 2015 Teleflex Incorporated. All rights reserved.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150526005654/en/
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