Special Information

ON THIS PAGE YOU FIND:

1. Press Release/Announcements (Last Updated 4/8/2008)

2. Emergency Preparedness (Last Updated 1/10/2008)

3. Magazines/Articles and Newsletters for ESRD Patients and Professionals (Last Updated 6/26/2007)

4. Flu Season/Immunization/Pandamic Flu (Last Updated 4/10/2008)

5. Link to Are you Looking for Dialysis Facility?

6. Link to Educational Resources for Professionals

7. Link to Patient Education Materials

8. Link to FDA - MEDWATCH

9. Link to Recall/Warning/Drug Information

10. OTHER Information (Last Updated 2/4/2008)

11. link to Medicare Part D Web Page Posted 11/12/2007(New)

Press Release / Announcements/

ESRD Conditions for Coverage
We are pleased to announce that The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) that will modernize the Medicare conditions for coverage for the nation’s dialysis centers and promote higher quality of care for patients receiving dialysis.
The final regulation will enhance the quality of care available to more than 336,000 Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD who receive dialysis treatment from more than 4,700 Medicare-approved renal dialysis facilities across the U.S.  The regulation reflects important clinical and scientific advances in dialysis technology and standards of care practices.  The regulation also updates the current requirements that were first published in 1976. 
The final regulation went on display April 3, 2008 at the Office of the Federal Register and will be published April 15, 2008.  However, because the regulations are changing from a process-oriented (1976 version of the ESRD CfCs) to patient-centered approach (new ESRD CFCs), CMS believes that ESRD facility providers will need additional time to come into full compliance with the requirements in this final regulation.  Therefore, we are giving dialysis facilities 180 days from the publication date, to comply with the requirements in this regulation. 
The final rule is displayed at:
www.cms.hhs.gov/CFCsAndCoPs/downloads/ESRDdisplayfinalrule.pdf
CMS will provide additional details on its plans to educate and train the ESRD Networks on these new ESRD Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) in the next several weeks. Posted 4/8//2008

CDC MEMO - Allergic-Type Reactions within the Hemodialysis Patient Population Posted 1/15/2008

Just a heads up - A Children's hospital just reported that they have had 3 dialyzer reactions (swelling, hives, vomiting) to brand new dialyzers from a particular lot# of Fresenius F5's.  It is Lot# 7CU417.  They do not do reuse at that facility. The unit has already contacted the manufacturer, saved the dialyzers, and called the FDA. Posted 11/21/2007

FDA - Guidance for Industry - Medical Device Tracking; Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff Posted 11/2/2007

FDA - Public Health Notification from FDA, CDC, EPA and OSHA*: Avoiding Hazards with Using Cleaners and Disinfectants on Electronic Medical Equipment Posted 11/2/2007

CMS - This Link is designed to provide Medicare enrollment information for providers, physicians, non-physician practitioners, and other suppliers.  Please review CMS's downloadable brochures on this link to learn more about Medicare provider and supplier enrollment.
Direct link to Enrollment and NPI Information [PDF.38KB] Posted 10/3/2007

Need more Information?
Not sure what an NPI is and how you can get it, share it and use it?  As always, more information and education on the NPI can be found through the CMS NPI page http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand  on the CMS website.  Providers can apply for an NPI online at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov  or can call the NPI enumerator to request a paper application at 1-800-465-3203.    Posted 10/3/2007

CMS - Survey & Certification letter 07-34 “Survey Guidance for a New Home Hemodialysis Water Treatment Device, the “NxStage PureFlow™ SL Water Purification System (PureFlow™)”  regarding the use of a new water treatment system called PureFlow with the NxStage dialysis equipment.  

Copy of the recall letter from NxStage sent to their customers about the leaking cartridges  
Posted 9/5/2007, UPDATED 9/6/2007

HR. 3162 (version July 25, 2007)
Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007 (Introduced in House) Posted 8/6/2007

CMS- Decision Memo for Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs) for non-renal disease indications (CAG-00383N) - POSTED 8/1/2007

Modification to the National Monitoring Policy for Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs) for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients Treated in Renal Dialysis Facilities - POSTED 8/1/2007

Monitoring of Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents for Beneficiaries with End Stage Renal Disease January 2008 Posted 7/24/2007

Emergency Preparedness

Click here for additional Network 13 disaster prepardness Information and Resources

SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA
DISRUPTION IN WATER SUPPLY

BOIL WATER ALERT Posted 1/10/2008

___________ 2007 December ICE/SNOW STORM

Oklahoma Dialysis Current Status (Open/Closed) Updated 12/17/2007
Network 13 Disaster Prepardness Resources Posted 12/14/2007

UPDATE: December 2007 Ice Storm Posted 12/12/2007
December 2007 Ice Storm – Emergency Shelters in Oklahoma Updated 12/13/2007

Network 13 Memo Posted 12/9/2007
Link to Disaster Material for State of Oklahoma
Link to Facility Listings (excel)

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Network 13 Disaster Planning Resource,
Boil Water Advisory,
Listings of dialysis facilities within the region can be found in Oklahoma Disaster Handbook,
(Last Updated 8/20/2007)

Emergency Preparedness for Patients on Dialysis
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10150.pdf CMS is committed to providing patients and providers with important information. Just as facilities need to be prepared for disasters, it is also important for ESRD patients to know how to help themselves in emergency situations. As a result a companion piece, Preparing for Emergencies: a Guide for People on Dialysis, was revised and updated and is being distributed to new ESRD patients in the revised Medicare ESRD patient orientation package. This booklet provides some helpful ideas on how patients can help themselves to manage during the first few days of a disaster until more normal conditions can be restored. The patient guide provides information, which is consistent with the enclosed manual Emergency Preparedness for Dialysis Facilities.

What to do when your municipal water supplier issues a "boil water advisory"
Informational document by Matt Arduino and Glenda Payne, RN, MS, CNN, Nurse Consultant, ESRD Lead Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. You may also find additional information on CDC web site with additional guidance for use of tanker water. CDC Website http://www.cdc.gov/
POSTED 9/17/2004

Magazines/Articles and Newsletters for ESRD Patients and Professionals

AAKP DEVELOPS HOME DIALYSIS MAGAZINE - Posted 6/26/2007
Network 13 - Kidney Koncerns - Patients Newsletter
Network 13 - News You Can Use - Professional Newsletter