Colorado Dialysis Technician Training Standards hearing - February 1st

[plugger]

Thegrammalady,

I will talk to my rep about how we can get the word out; it looks like we are getting a little write-up in Nephrology News and Issues for starters.

[angieskidney]

it looks like we are getting a little write-up in Nephrology News and Issues for starters.

That is excellent!! 

[plugger]

I was hoping to give all of you a happy update on our bill, it was looking like HB1131 was going to make it out of the appropriations committee at the end of March; however Fresenius has decided to join the act and is trying to kill the bill in the Appropriations committee.  I'm trying to find out what they are saying and if my state rep wants people to write in - actually I kind of take this as a compliment.

[jbeany]

I'd take it as proof that they aren't meeting some pretty basic standards in their hiring practices right now - otherwise why fight it? 

[plugger]

I'm going to have to apologize to Fresenius on this one.  It turns out they aren't trying to stop the bill, they just had a problem with some of the language in the bill concerning the organization (NANT) that will choose which tests get accreditated.  It looks like my rep may have got some bad info on this one - and I should have waited to see exactly what they were saying.

[plugger]

Ok, this one is official - davita has come out against our bill.  My rep met with a lobbyist and they are going to try to shoot it down; they claim there is no proof certification works - they also claim everything is just coming along peachy-keen.

I've seen this song and dance before and I doubt there is enough proof in the known universe to convince davita of the merits of certification.  So we are contacting our allies and would preferably have more testimonials from people in-state - a half page would be fine.  It can be sent to Rep. John Kefalas at: john.kefalas.house@state.co.us

[Zach]

Ok, this one is official - davita has come out against our bill.  My rep met with a lobbyist and they are going to try to shoot it down; they claim there is no proof certification works ...

Yet, DaVita is for the national bill that includes certification of patient care technicians.  Maybe because the national bill has so many loopholes?

You should also read George Harper's article in Nephrology News & Issues about Georgia's technician bill which just passed the State Senate.  They've been at it for a long time.

[KICKSTART]

This thread probably didnt get much response on the UK site because its concerning America .

[plugger]

Yet, DaVita is for the national bill that includes certification of patient care technicians.  Maybe because the national bill has so many loopholes?

You should also read George Harper's article in Nephrology News & Issues about Georgia's technician bill which just passed the State Senate.  They've been at it for a long time.

I do hope the federal bill turns out to be a fine bill - it does worry me to hear Davita has their hand in it, but I hope my concerns are unfounded.  I have spoken to George Harper and I wish him a lot of luck with their bill.

I wanted to mention we just had a stakeholders' meeting at the state capitol - it was real interesting.  A friend and I were there to protect our concerns and it looks like it was a good thing - there was my rep, us, and seven people from the industry - mostly Davita and some Fresenius.  We were there to go over the bill and I will admit some of the people had some good points about such things as timelines for training and so on.  We didn't get along too well though when a Davita lady wanted their program as one we would recognize.  I told her, her company had too much incentive to keep down labor costs and might water down any program - the way they have watered down the profession: years ago it was RNs and maybe LPNs giving treatments, now it seems to be anybody walking in from off the street.  My rep mentioned he didn't want this to be confrontational and got us back on the bill.  This didn't stop other spates from breaking out and I might mention them another time - let's just say we may have been outnumbered, but I didn't feel outgunned.

[plugger]

One result of that meeting appears to be as follows: we had an organization that has been deeply involved in the bill, but appeared to be sitting on the fence; I got the word they will probably be coming down on our side.  I don't know if they will see this - but Thank You Colorado Hospital Association!

[plugger]

I talked to my rep and davita is still lobbying hard against the bill and trying to kill it in the appropriations committee - hearing April 11th.  My rep - John Kefalas - told me more patient stories would be helpful - so if you haven't written yet, now would be a good time.

As always stories from Colorado would be given preferential treatment, but I told him stories from elsewhere concerning davita and Fresenius could also show these companies have problems.

Again, stories can anonymous.
Contact info:
Colorado State Representative John Kefalas, District 52
 
email: john.kefalas.house@state.co.us
 
State Capitol phone: (303)866-4569
home phone: 970-221-1135
 
Mailing address:
Rep. John Kefalas, District 52
c/o Colorado State Capitol
200 East Colfax
Denver CO  80203

If you need some inspiration I fairly recently dug up this stat:

Since 1991:
   children age 10–19, mortality due to infection – up 19%
   (children age 10–19, cardiovascular mortality – up 62%)
USRDS 2006 ADR

We have more.

[plugger]

I talked to my rep and he is going to put out a legislative alert here soon - within the next day or two; he will probably be asking people to write in to appropriations committee members.  He mentioned Davita has been quiet lately, but one of their main lobbyists is coming to town; I don't know if they are a bit more subdued or this is the calm before the storm.

[Sluff]

Plugger Thanks for all your hard work in research and keeping the rest of us up to date.

[plugger]

You are welcome Sluff!  And thank you for allowing me to be a part of this - now for the alert from my rep:

HB07-1131:  HEMODIALYSIS TECHNICIAN TRAINING STANDARDS & CERTIFICATION

4/6/07 - LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT

 

TAKE ACTION

·         Contact House Appropriations Committee Members (see names below) before 4/11/07 and express your support for HB07-1131 (Sponsored by: Rep. John Kefalas, HD-52). 

·         HB-1131 is scheduled to be heard by this committee on Wednesday, 4/11 starting at 7:30 AM; it is critical that members hear from constituents - why this bill is important - improve kidney dialysis patients’ lives. 

·         Identify yourself and tell them if you are a constituent.  Legislators pay more attention to constituents.

 

WHAT HB-1131 DOES

·         Requires the state board of Health to adopt rules specifying the minimum training and competency standards for hemodialysis technicians and establishes a process to verify that technicians have been certified by a national credentialing program.

·         Links this certification requirement to the licensing of dialysis treatment clinics; after the effective date - 1/1/09, a licensed dialysis clinic may not allow a person to practice unless that person is certified or in a training program working towards certification; provides 18 months for technician to be trained and certified.

 

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, hemodialysis treatments have been administered by RNs but increasingly underpaid and poorly trained technicians have taken on this task.  The results are rising costs and worsening patient care. Infections and mortality due to improperly administered treatments are increasing and the hospitalization of these patients place an undue burden on the Medicare system. 

 

TALKING POINTS

·         Compared to other industrialized nations, the U.S. far outpaces others’ in its hemodialysis mortality rates. “Gross mortality as a simple percent has been quoted by many investigators as being 24 percent in the U.S., 12–14 percent in Europe, and 9 percent in Japan.” – USRDS 2006 ADR

·         Since 1991: children age 10–19, mortality due to infection – up 19% children age 10–19, cardiovascular mortality – up 62% USRDS 2006 ADR

·         Infection rates from secondary sources due to dialysis treatments are also on the rise. Since 1993: Pneumonia – up 12%, Cellulitis – up 20%, Bacteremia/septicemia – up 16% USRDS 2006 ADR

·         “…25 to 50 percent of all hemodialysis patient admissions and hospital days are attributable to vascular access placement and related complications, contributing over $1 billion to total Medicare inpatient costs annually.”  Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services press release, March 17, 2005.

·         Healthcare expenditures relating to dialysis treatments are skyrocketing. In 1991 expenditures totaled $8.0 billion. By 2001, costs had reached $22.8 billion almost triple earlier level of expenditures. USRDS 2003 ADR

·         “Techs who do not have adequate training have caused the death of patients.  In states that do not have tech licensing, the techs work under the RN license and that puts the RN at risk of losing their license for a tech mistake. Hence many RN's do not want to work in a unit where the techs are putting the RN license on the line.” Founding RN, DialysisEthics

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS (13)

Representative Bernie Buescher:  303-866-2583   Bernie.buescher.house@state.co.us

Representative Jack Pommer: 303-866-2780                Jack.pommer.house@state.co.us

Representative Dorothy Butcher: 303-866-2968   Dorothy.butcher.house@state.co.us

Representative Michael Garcia: 303-866-3911             Michael@michaelgarcia.info

Representative Joel Judd: 303-866-2925          repjoeljudd@qwest.net

Representative James Kerr: 303-866-2939       James.kerr.house@state.co.us

Representative Tom Massey: 303-866-2747                 Tom.massey.house@state.co.us

Representative Anne McGihon: 303-866-2921             Anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us

Representative Frank McNulty: 303-866-2936             Frank.mcnulty.house@state.co.us

Representative Jim Riesberg: 303-866-2953                Jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us

Representative Glen Vaad: 303-866-2943         Glen.vaad.house@state.co.us

Representative Paul Weissmann: 303-866-2920   reppaul@aol.com

Representative Al White: 303-866-2949           Al.white.house@state.co.us

[plugger]

House bill 1131 passed out of the state house Appropriations committee 9-4!

[plugger]

I just talked to my rep - Rep. John Kefalas - and he said it looks like this bill could go to the house floor within the next couple of days!

Colorado residents interested in supporting this bill can write or call their reps and can find contact info at:

Colorado_reps

For out-of-state people interested in writing or calling, I would suggest the following two contacts:

Rep. Andrew Romanoff
Speaker of the Colorado House
E-mail: romanoff@coloradohouse.org
Cap: 303-866-2346


Rep. Michael  Garcia
Assistant Majority Leader of the Colorado House
michael@michaelgarcia.info
Cap: 303-866-3911

[Bill Peckham]

Great job Plugger.

[plugger]

Thanks Bill!  I understand we should know something about the state house vote soon.

[plugger]

It looks like we are on our way to the Colorado state Senate!  The bill passed the house 42-23!

[jbeany]

 

[plugger]

I understand our Colorado State Senate hearing could be as soon as next week – I’ll post the date as soon as I get the date and time.  We could use more help with people writing in - it is critical that members hear from constituents - why this bill is important - improve kidney dialysis patients’ lives.  Identify yourself and tell them if you are a constituent.  Legislators pay more attention to constituents.  I should add Davita is recruiting people to testify against the bill and we just might need all the help we can get.  But we have a few more people who say they are willing to testify for us – and we have another organization that has come down on our side and is lobbying on our behalf.

Thank you, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative!
http://cohealthinitiative.org/news/?page_id=2

Members of the Colorado State Health and Human Services committee are:

Senator Bob Hagedorn, Chair
Cap: 303-866-4879
E-mail: SenBob@msn.com

Senator Betty Boyd, Vice-Chair
Cap: 303-866-4857
E-mail: betty.boyd.senate@state.co.us

Senator Shawn Mitchell
Cap: 303-866-4876
E-mail: shawn.mitchell.senate@state.co.us

Senator John Morse
Cap: 303-866-6364
E-mail: john.morse.senate@state.co.us

Senator Scott Renfroe
Cap: 303-866-4451
E-mail: scott.renfroe.senate@state.co.us

Senator Paula Sandoval
Cap: 303-866-4862
E-mail: paula.sandoval.senate@state.co.us

Senator David Schultheis
Cap: 303-866-4835
E-mail: dave@daveschultheis.com

Senator Brandon Shaffer
Cap: 303-866-5291
E-mail: brandon@brandonshaffer.com

Senator Steve Ward
Cap: 303-866-4846
E-mail: steve.ward.senate@state.co.us

[plugger]

The state Senate hearing will occur this Thursday April 26th at 1:30pm in room SCR 356 at the State Capitol in Denver.  I talked to my State Senator this morning and he thought we had a good mix of people testifying for our side.

[plugger]

The bill passed the Colorado state Senate Health and Human Services committee by a 5-4 vote!  (it was along party lines with the Democrats voting for it and the Republicans against it).  It should get through the appropriations committee today and then on to the state Senate floor.

[plugger]

We passed the Colorado State Senate Appropriations Committee by a 9-1 vote! Thank you both Democrats and Republicans!

I understand there should be a 2nd reading tomorrow and an unofficial vote - then a final vote on Wednesday or Thursday - then to the Governor.

Last chance to have your say with our State Senators:

contact info:
Colorado_State_Senators

[thegrammalady]

YEA for our side