Tufts lawsuit alleges kidney foundation owes it more than $1.4 million [NKF]

[Meinuk]

Hmmmm... so where is that walk money going???


http://www.boston.com/Boston/whitecoatnotes/2011/09/tufts-lawsuit-alleges-kidney-foundation-owes-more-than-million/A8dgKE8QAzXLFdMwPxUuPI/index.html


Tufts lawsuit alleges kidney foundation owes it more than $1.4 million

By Chelsea Conaboy, Globe Staff

In a lawsuit filed in the US District Court of Massachusetts yesterday, Tufts Medical Center alleged that the National Kidney Foundation has failed to pay more than $1.4 million owed for research and assistance the hospital provided in developing guidelines for diagnosing and treating kidney disease. The foundation had not filed a response, as of this evening.

The two parties began working together in 1997 and signed a three-year contract in 2009, the lawsuit said.

Hospital spokeswoman Brooke Tyson Hynes said the foundation’s grant money supports the Tufts Center for Kidney Disease Guideline Development and Implementation and the work of four physicians. The foundation has recognized the center’s director, Dr. Andrew Levey, with several awards, including naming him a 2011 Outstanding Medical Honoree.

The hospital has a “long and great relationship” with the foundation, Hynes said. “This is not something we wanted to do. It was certainly a last step.”

The lawsuit alleges that the hospital is owed $1.4 million for work already completed and another $912,258 for work to be completed before the end of the contract in June. The foundation has cancelled several meetings scheduled to discuss the dispute, and the hospital believes the foundation “has no intention of paying” either sum, the filing said.

“The National Kidney Foundation and Tufts University Medical Center have had several confidential conversations surrounding NKF’s practice guidelines,” foundation spokeswoman Ellie Schlam said in an e-mail. “We hope to continue to negotiate with Tufts in good faith and come to an amicable solution.”

She said the foundation is not working with another hospital on guideline development.

[okarol]

I am afraid this may just be the tip of the iceberg. 

[Quickfeet]

About 200 dollars of the walk money goes to pay my cobra insurance each month. I can't speak for the rest of it.

[Meinuk]

Quickfeet, that is GREAT.  I am curious though, are you being funded by your local NKF chapter?  It seems as though National NKF has "restructured" and is no longer giving patient Emergency Grants or Medic Alert Jewelry or Nutritional Supplements.


http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=24011.0

I have never heard of the availability of a NKF Insurance grant (the only national organization that I know of that does that is the AKF (American Kidney Fund), and they seem to be a pass through from the providers) Is yours through a local chapter?

They have closed the Buffalo Chapter here in NY, and are consolidating the Rochester office to cover Western NY State.  I also believe that some chapters have left the NKF and started their own non-profit patient support groups, that way they are able to help people in their area, and not send money to the National Office.

Quickfeet, I am curious, what part of the country are you in?

[Meinuk]

I found the answer to my own question.

It looks like the NKFI (NKF of Indiana) is not following the national leadership ( Going Rogue!?!) and still has financial assistance for the people in that area.  BRAVO!!

If only more of the chapters would be that way.

(Let's hope that they keep their money separate and aren't held liable for the monies that National HQ will owe)


http://www.kidney.org/site/303/patientAid.cfm?ch=303

Patient Aid

Indiana State Renal Program
Applications for this program are available each January and can be obtained from your dialysis unit social worker, your transplant social worker or by calling the NKFI. Eligibility requirements for this program include: Indiana residence, medical diagnosis of ESRD, and income limitations. These three guidelines must be met. Participants in this program can receive assistance with the cost of commercial insurance premiums OR Medicare premiums OR partial cost of transplant anti-rejection drugs.

Prescription Discounts
NKFI has a partnership with Kroger pharmacies in Indiana. Patients apply for the Drug Bank prescription discount through their social workers. A card is issued by the pharmacy and entitles the kidney patient (or kidney transplant recipient) and immediate family members to receive a 13% discount on name brand prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs prescribed by a physician. If there is no Kroger near the applicant, Kroger will arrange for another pharmacy to fill the prescriptions. Cannot be used in conjuction with another prescription drug program (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid) and cannot apply to "co-pays."

Emergency Financial Assistance

A fund is made available to dialysis units, hospitals, and transplant centers to be used for patient emergencies. This fund can be used for immediate needs such as groceries, utility bills, telephone bills, rent, and medical supplies and equipment not covered by a health plan. This fund is not designed to pay medical bills. Requests for assistance should be discussed with the social worker at the dialysis unit or transplant center. Applicant must be a kidney patient or kidney transplant recipient.

Larry Smock Scholarship

The Larry Smock Scholarship is awarded to kidney patients that reside in Indiana to assist and encourage them to continue their post-secondary education in an academic or monitored occupational setting. To qualify for scholarship funds a person must be on dialysis or have received a kidney transplant, be a resident of the State of Indiana, and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Applications are available in January and due in February.

Larry Smock was a young man waiting for a kidney transplant when the community of Martinsville, IN raised $20,000 through numerous fundraisers to assist him. Unfortunately, Larry passed away before he could receive his new kidney. The community donated the funds to NKFI and The Larry Smock Scholarship Fund was established in 1992 with a portion of those funds.

If you are interested in more information, please call the NKFI office at (800) 382-9971 or (317) 722-5640 or e-mail the office at nkfi@kidneyindiana.org.
Medical Identification Jewelry

All dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients who live in Indiana may apply through their social workers to receive a bracelet or necklace stating drug allergies and/or medical conditions. The patient pays a nominal amount for the jewelry while NKFI pays for the balance. For more information contact the NKFI office at (800) 382-9971 or (317) 722-5640 or by e-mail at nkfi@kidneyindiana.org.

[Quickfeet]

I"M not sure of the details Meinuk, my social worker handled everything. Your last post had a lot of good info in it. I will have to look in to the Larry smock scholar ship.