QUESTIONS FOR THE CONGRESSMAN

[MooseMom]

My newly elected Congressman, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R) is going to have a couple of town hall meetings next week, the 23rd and 24th of March.  I am going to try to go.   What dialysis/CKD/Medicare related question(s) would you all like for me to ask him?

[okarol]

There are some topics that are policy and kidney related on the Renal Support Networks website:
Be an Advocate for Kidney Care
The Wellness & Education Kidney Advocacy Network (weKAN) consists of “patient activists” from across the country whose common goal is to ensure that people with CKD receive quality care. If you are a person who lives with kidney disease and would like to receive information about weKAN, please email weKAN@rsnhope.org.
http://www.rsnhope.org/1weKAN/RSN_initiatives1.php

[MooseMom]

I'd like to present him with more pointed questions whose answers may lie with Congress, things like maybe extending the period of time before a person with private insurance is forced onto Medicare (extension of the MSP).

[Zach]

I'd like to present him with more pointed questions whose answers may lie with Congress, things like maybe extending the period of time before a person with private insurance is forced onto Medicare (extension of the MSP).

Be careful what you ask for.
Extension of the MSP beyond its current 30-month period may not end up in the best interests of people on dialysis.

 

[Rerun]

I'd ask how close are we as a Nation to "Presumed Conscent" for organ donation? 

   

[Jean]

Good one ReRun. I would ask him why we are giving SSI to legal aliens who have never contributed a dime to Social Security in their lives.

[MooseMom]

I'd like to present him with more pointed questions whose answers may lie with Congress, things like maybe extending the period of time before a person with private insurance is forced onto Medicare (extension of the MSP).

Be careful what you ask for.
Extension of the MSP beyond its current 30-month period by not end up in the best interests of people on dialysis.

 

I'm not advocating for one thing or the other.  But if anyone had a question on that topic for whatever reason, I'd be willing to ask on their behalf if I had the chance.

[MooseMom]

I'd ask how close are we as a Nation to "Presumed Conscent" for organ donation? 

   

That IS a good one.

[okarol]

  Presumed consent is a fine idea, but we are already using the majority of deceased donors available. With better built cars, seat belts required, more airbags, and also helmet laws, there are less brain-injured victims on life support who end up as deceased donors. People always use Spain as an example of how well it works, but from what I understand, they don't allow patients over 60 years old to get transplants, so that alters the wait list patient profile.