Dialysis Patient Citizens
@PatientCitizen
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DPC is a patient-led group working to improve the quality of life for all kidney disease and dialysis patients through education and advocacy.
Washington, DC
Joined June 2009
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Dialysis Patient Citizens empowers end-stage renal disease patients to take action to improve their quality of life. Join DPC to find a community of ESRD patients and make your voice heard.
Visit to learn more.
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Dialysis patients like Kristal are losing their private insurance, resulting in their loved ones also losing health coverage. Congress must guarantee that dialysis patients AND their loved ones are covered while fighting the battle with kidney disease.
#passrestorein24
#dialysis
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Even with Medicare, Adrian did not financially qualify to be placed on the transplant list. He was fortunate to qualify for Medicaid, but not all patients are able to receive state-funded coverage.
We must guarantee access to private insurance coverage:
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The wait for a kidney transplant is hard enough on dialysis patients. They must have insurance coverage that fits their needs so that when a kidney is available, they are physically and financially ready.
#passrestorein24
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Marcine and many other dialysis patients are fortunate to qualify for Medicaid in their states. However, this coverage restricts them to in-state healthcare, reducing their access to life-saving transplants from other states. Dialysis patients need access to coverage that fits
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Becky's daughter, Dianne, relied heavily on her full insurance coverage that paid to treat all of her complications and extended her time with her two children. Becky's story is why
@MikeKellyPA
is fighting for the entire kidney community to ensure access to coverage for all.
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Thank you,
@DAbbottStateRep
, for your dedication to guaranteeing access to affordable Medigap coverage for Indiana kidney disease patients under 65. Your efforts and advocacy as a kidney transplant recipient mean the world to the kidney community.
#dpcadvocacy
#dpc20th
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Cheri was only able to receive her kidney transplant with the help of secondary insurance coverage. Now, dialysis patients are losing access to private insurance coverage and becoming ineligible for a transplant.
#dialysis
#kidneydisease
#privateinsurance
#PassRestoreIn24
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Thank you,
@ChuckHoskin_Jr
, for your efforts to help kidney disease patients in the Cherokee Nation.
#kidneydisease
#dialysis
#dialysisadvocate
#dialysisadvocacy
#kidneydiseaseadvocate
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Thank you, State Senator
@KyleCWalker
, for your tireless efforts to improve the lives of Indiana kidney disease patients by authoring and fighting to pass Senate Bill 215, which expands access to Medigap coverage.
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Thank you, State Rep. Chris Sneed, for your dedication and efforts in helping improve the quality of life for kidney disease patients in Oklahoma!
#DPCadvocacy
#DPC20th
#kidneydisease
#dialysis
#kidneydiseaseawareness
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We are excited to announce our next DPC Advocacy Champion, Arthur Hill!
Arthur's story was instrumental in passing state legislation in Indiana to guarantee affordable access to Medigap coverage for dialysis patients under 65. Thank you, Arthur, for sharing your story and
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We would like to express our gratitude to Alicia, Amanda, and Marcy for their hard work providing 5-star quality care for an underserved, rural community of dialysis patients.
#DialysisDynamos
#DPC20th
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Our first-ever Dialysis Patient Citizens Advocacy Champion Award recipient - Board Member, Gene Blankenship!
#dpc20th
#dialysisadvocacy
#kidneydisease
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Thank you, Inga and Karl, with
@FreseniusKC
, for your dedication to helping dialysis patients every day. We are proud to call you
#dialysisdynamos
#dpc20th
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DPC board member, Gene Blankenship, & patient advocates in OK celebrated World Kidney Day & HCR 1013 passing unanimously! Thank you, Rep Sneed & Sen. Pemberton for introducing HCR 1013, which raises awareness for kidney disease & designates March 2024 as Kidney Month in OK!
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Article: PATS driver who took COVID-positive riders to get dialysis is recognized
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We are thrilled to announce the passage and enactment of SB 215 in Indiana. Now about 2,000 patients with ESRD will have access to affordable Medigap coverage regardless of their age.
Learn more:
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More than 80% of transplant programs require adequate health care insurance. Without Medigap, Nebraskan patients under 65 fall to the bottom of the list while patients from neighboring states with access to Medigap move to the top.
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"Without private insurance, I would have been on the hook for thousands of dollars. I could have lost my amazing in-network doctors and the option for at-home dialysis. In short, I would have had a completely different journey through kidney failure."
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How's this for a story!?
One of our advocates told us about the time her husband got a kidney donated by their oldest son's prom date! I got her to share in her own words:🧵
@DonateLife
@nkf
@UNOSNews
Let's start a thread with successful stories of organ transplants. People need hope more than anything when they are on waiting lists. Feel free to share yours below. I will start.....
🧵
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As part of Chronic Disease Month, we advocate for Chronic Kidney Disease!
Make sure to share this graphic if you do too.
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"Imagine paying into an insurance plan your whole working life just to lose coverage when you need it most. That is why Congress must act to help dialysis patients retain their private coverage if they choose." - Joyce Ford
Read More:
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Thank you to the 30+ Representatives who have shown their support for the kidney community by cosponsoring the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act!
The bipartisan Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (H.R. 6860) now has more than 30 co-sponsors!
This widespread support demonstrates it’s time for Congress to act to ensure fair treatment of patients with kidney failure.
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Prop 8 is a dangerous ballot initiative that CA residents will be asked to vote on this November. If passed, this can have devastating consequences for dialysis patients’ access to care. Vote No on
#Prop8
! Read more:
Paid for by Dialysis Patient Citizens
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Happy World Kidney Day!
Today, we want to hear your story! Share it with us by replying or using the hashtags
#DPCKidneyMonth
#DPC20th
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"The last thing dialysis patients should worry about is money..."
Read Margaret's letter expressing concern over the US Supreme Court's recent decision that impacts dialysis patients and urging Congress to
#PassRestorein24
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Thank you
@RepCindyAxne
and
@HerreraBeutler
for your leadership and introduction of the Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act. This critical legislation will expand health coverage for dialysis patients around the nation.
#kidneyhealth
#jackreynolds
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Big thanks to our kidney care partners! We're part of a great team!
That's our Western Regional Advocacy Director, Kelly Goss, in the upper-right corner. She's educated elected officials on dialysis and kidney care issues and helped patients raise their voices as advocates.
Fantastic discussion today w/
@rajmehrotra1122
about the latest from
@UWNephrology
+
@KriSeattle
, and policy solutions that can improve
#kidney
patient outcomes. Thx to
@PatientCitizen
,
@ChronicRights
,
@LifeCenterNW
,
@DaVita
,
@FreseniusKC
,
@KidneyFund
&
@WAHospitals
for joining!
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Thank you,
@RepRudyYakym
for your support for the kidney community in Indiana!
Visited the Fresenius facility in Mishawaka for a discussion on the services they offer constituents across
#IN02
to help those suffering from kidney disease.
Thanks for the hospitality and for the care you provide our fellow Hoosiers!
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Kristi Flynn is calling on
@RepRickAllen
to support the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act.
"Dialysis is a life or death affair, and financial concerns should play no part in the process."
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Check out this amazing story of a transplant patient who is giving back to the dialysis community.
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A victory for dialysis patients in Indiana:
@GovHolcomb
signed SB 215 on August 15th, providing dialysis patients under 65 with access to affordable Medigap insurance plans A, B, and D at the same premium rate as those who are 65.
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Mahesh Krishnan, Chairman of
@KCP_tweets
, wrote a powerful piece explaining the struggles kidney disease patients battle, the success we have seen in terms of awareness and access, and the work that still needs to be done.
Read the full article:
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In honor of
#DonateLifeMonth
, we are celebrating some of our patient advocates that were fortunate enough to receive a kidney transplant. Hear from DPC Board Member and patient advocate Gene Blankenship ⬇️
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Congratulations to DPC Board Member Gene Blankenship on a successful kidney transplant! Fortunately, Gene and his wife documented all of the excitement for us!
Check it out!
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Our CEO, Hrant Jamgochian, and President and CEO of
@KidneyFund
, LaVarne A. Burton, share their perspective on the Supreme Court ruling threatening patients' access to private insurance coverage at the start of their dialysis journey. Congress must act!
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Another one of our Patient Ambassadors, Julie Nast, shared her story on the Blind Chick Living - on dialysis podcast (hosted by Christina Gilchrist and Michael Gilchrist, who are also DPC members)!
Go check it out:
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This Rare Disease Day we want to raise awareness of the impact that rare diseases have on millions around the world. Rare diseases can be especially devastating to those on dialysis and those being impacted by kidney health issues.
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If you're feeling stressed, scared, angry, or sad right now, just know that you're not alone. This is a difficult time. A lot of us cope with anxiety and depression when we face overwhelming circumstances, uncertainty, personal loss, and the feelings of lack of control. (1/4)
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CA has the most co-sponsors to date including Rep.
@DevinNunes
! Thank you for supporting the
#dialysisPATIENTact
!
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We are thrilled to see the introduction of H.R. 8594 to prohibit discrimination against dialysis patients in insurance coverage.
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If you've been finding transportation to your dialysis treatment difficult, worry about safety precautions during the pandemic, or for any other reason have wondered if home dialysis is right for you, take our free class next week Thursday at 2:00 EST!
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A good chance for anyone looking to connect with kidney health professionals and patients.
#KidneyActionWeek
And follow us to learn how you can keep the call to action going year round!
Tune in with us for
#KidneyActionWeek
! We've loved hearing your questions for our guest experts and getting to know all of you during our livestreams. Here's how you can stay connected with all of this week's sessions:
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“What if doctors could just print a kidney, using cells from the patient, instead of having to find a donor match and hope the patient's body doesn't reject the transplanted kidney?”
Read more:
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"I began dialysis on Medicare. Since Medicare only covers 80%, and my disability income disqualified me from Medicaid, I could not cover the remaining 20%. I went deep into medical debt to survive." - Shekeila H.
@Congressman_JVD
, pass Restore in '24!
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Exciting news announced in the
@politico
Future Pulse newsletter on Kidney Disease technology!
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To try to put it simply: The ruling would allow insurers to treat all dialysis centers as ‘out-of-network’, reimbursing less for dialysis and forcing newly-diagnosed patients to go straight from their employer coverage to Medicare...no choice or transition period. 1/
“DPC is deeply disappointed by today’s Supreme Court decision...(the ruling) represents immediate and profound risks for kidney patients and their families across the nation.”
Read our full statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling here:
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Thank you, Representative Buddy Carter, for your support of H.R. 8594 and the dialysis patient community.
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Thank you, Hon. Latrice Walker, for sharing your story in support of the kidney disease community in New York.
I spoke in Albany today in support of a resolution memorializing March 2024, as Kidney Disease Awareness Month in the State of New York. With my mom in mind and heavy on my heart, this was very personal. Click the following link to listen:
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The water crisis occurring in Jackson, Mississippi is impacting over 8,000 dialysis patients in need of clean water for their routine treatments.
Learn more:
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We are extremely grateful to the nurses and doctors who care for dialysis patients every day. We hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day!
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PATIENT AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT: Sherry Robinson
Sherry’s father was on dialysis from 2007 - 2012. During this time, Sherry noticed not only the emotional struggles that patients and their families face but the financial struggles as well.
Learn more:
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Last week our staff and patient advocates went to DC to meet with lawmakers to discuss what needs to be done to improve dialysis patients' quality of life!
Pictured is patient advocate and board member, Gene Blankenship after meeting with his lawmaker.
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We are thrilled to see continued research aimed at improving dialysis patients' treatment and quality of life.
Learn more about some new technology that is in the works:
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Fresenius’ new technology will make home dialysis much easier for patients and their caregivers.
Learn more about the GuideMe software:
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Gene and Kristal didn’t choose kidney disease, but they should be able to choose their health coverage. Dialysis patients need our support!
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We would like to honor National Minority Health Month by building awareness of minorities' experiences and connections to dialysis and kidney disease.
Source: CDC Vital Signs
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Board Member Natalie Zuniga hosted an event at Davita San Antonio West to spread awareness about DPC and the DPC Ed Center. Thank you, Natalie, for your dedication and hard work in hosting this event and advocating for all dialysis patients.
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DIALYSIS PATIENT SPOTLIGHT: Dori Wolf
“When I was diagnosed with kidney disease..., I had to fight to keep my job – and the coverage it provided. To know patients...may not even be able to hang onto that coverage is extremely concerning.”
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“DPC is deeply disappointed by today’s Supreme Court decision...(the ruling) represents immediate and profound risks for kidney patients and their families across the nation.”
Read our full statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling here:
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We love seeing new dialysis centers opening to patients!
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The next Kidney Chat for the
@DPCEdCenter
will be on Tuesday, January 10, at 3 pm ET.
Join them and hear from Joanne Smith, RN, a Kidney Care Advocate who will provide information on the various treatment options.
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The
@DPCEdCenter
January webinar is in 4 DAYS.
Join them on January 26 at 2 pm ET to hear from Gabriel Cooper, a kidney/pancreas recipient and psychotherapist dedicated to professionally supporting other kidney patients.
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For
#WKD2014
, DPC brought 64 people from 24 states to meet with almost 100 Members of Congress!
#kidneyaware
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We're here to help
#dialysis
patients find strength and resilience during hard times. Come check out our free
@DPCEdCenter
webinar next Friday, where we'll offer tips for coping and even thriving with
#KidneyDisease
or
#chronicillness
. Hope to see you there!
Don’t let the daily challenges of
#KidneyDisease
and
#dialysis
get you down. Our next webinar offers helpful tips for coping with your “new normal,” so you can learn to live your best life.
Join us and
@DrAliCarter
at 2 PM EST on Friday, May 26.
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The
@DPCEdCenter
support group call is tomorrow (10/11), featuring our CEO, Hrant Jamgochian
Join us at 3 PM ET.
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Thank you,
@RepGlennIvey
for taking the time to hear from dialysis staff about the struggles patients with ESRD face every day!
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"Federal vaccine allocation to community dialysis clinics cannot happen quickly enough. Lives depend on it."
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@RepDonaldPayne
(D-NJ) is a dialysis patient.
@RepGuthrie
(R-KY) has a son who's undergone kidney treatment.
"We need to look at these things as human conditions and not make them political footballs.”
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When Pius started dialysis in 2013, dialysis patients were allowed to keep their private insurance for up to 30 months before moving to Medicare as their primary insurance. He had firsthand experience in how helpful it was to keep that coverage during the transition.
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So are we! She'll be the first to say it wasn't easy: lots of triumphs, heartbreaks, and hard-earned wisdom. It knocks us out when we meet people like her. Resilience on ANY level doesn't come easy. That's why we try to help teach it: LOTS of potential 'Kristis' out there! 😉
@PatientCitizen
@DonateLife
@nkf
@UNOSNews
👀 10 years on dialysis during the prime of her life. wow. I bet she feels like a completely different person post transplant. I am amazed by this kind of resilience. 💙💚
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Last week, DPC staff and board members joined the team at the
@KidneyFund
for a congressional briefing to educate lawmakers on kidney disease and its impacts on patients.
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We are proud to announce the introduction of the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act in the U.S. Senate. Thank you to the bill sponsors, Senators Cassidy (R-LA), Booker (D-NJ), and Heinrich (D-NM) for your contribution to this major milestone for kidney patients.
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All patients should have access to integrated care in which health care providers share information with one another in real-time about a patient’s health, treatments prescribed and services delivered.
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Thank you,
@RepAndyBiggsAZ
, for taking the time to visit a local dialysis center and hear from patients and staff.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to visit DaVita Mountain Dialysis Center.
DaVita currently serves about 100 patients requiring dialysis care at least three times weekly.
These patients are among the most vulnerable in our community, and I am thankful for DaVita's care.
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This op-ed highlights the very real and continued threat of Chronic Kidney Disease to Americans. It’s vital that the Biden Administration focus on those suffering from kidney health issues.
#kidneycare
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Access to consistent, quality dialysis treatments is essential for ESRD patients to maintain a healthy heart. We must ensure that all patients have access to the care they need!
#HeartMonth
#DPC20th
#AccesstoCare
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“Private insurance often provides crucial access to high-quality care. However, due to the Supreme Court’s decision, dialysis patients are no longer protected from being kicked off their private insurance...”
Congress must protect dialysis patients.
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Our patient advocate, Jean Kay, is continuing the fight for Medigap access to patients under 65 in Nebraska! Check out her and her husband Steve’s interview on KETV 7 Omaha:
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We are excited to announce that registration is open for the first-in-the-nation kidney disease training curriculum for community health workers to help them educate their communities, specifically those at risk for kidney failure.
Learn more:
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"For many dialysis patients, private insurance plays an important role in providing access to care, either as supplemental insurance like my grandfather had, or as a patient’s primary insurer in the early days of treatment."
- Melissa Sanchez
Learn more:
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March is National Kidney Month! Did you know improvements in dialysis care are outpacing other serious chronic disease conditions – including cancer and heart failure. Read more:
#KidneyMonth
#NationalKidneyMonth
#KidneyDisease
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Thank you,
@SenHutton
, for taking the time to hear from dialysis staff who care for the Wisconsin kidney community!
Had a great discussion and tour with the staff at DaVita Dialysis in Wauwatosa on Friday. They provide life saving treatment for those affected by kidney disease and diabetes.
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“Victoria was in veterinary school in a different state, and she saw Tad’s reposting of our FB request and never told us she was getting tested to be the donor. We did not know she was our donor until the day before the transplant!"
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"Resilience is NOT toughing it out or pretending you’re not upset when you are.
#Resilience
is knowing your strengths, being able to ask for help, and having compassion for yourself. It helps us grow stronger in vulnerable places." -
@Maureen70308944
You’d never think looking at this pic that I’m a medical marvel surviving 46 years with
#cysticfibrosis
then ending up in
#kidneyfailure
& now literally being kept alive on
#dialysis
until I get the call with a
#kidney
Never judge a book by its cover 💪
#defyingtheodds
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Darren was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2017 and, while he has been able to continue working, it is still a struggle to pay his increased medical bills along with all of his other regular expenses. That said Darren knows that he is fortunate to be able to make ends meet,
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NEW! issue of The Kidney Citizen:
- How to take control, lessen your pain and boost your independence
- COVID-19: Its impact on kidney care and what we can do about it
- How to treat depression and mental illness while living with kidney disease.
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#NationalKidneyMonth
is the best time of year to advocate for yourself and all kidney disease patients! Hear from some of our patient advocates on the benefits of advocacy.
Start your advocacy journey:
#DPC20th
#DPCKidneyMonth
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The
#dialysisPATIENTact
is an exciting piece of legislation for
#ESRD
patients nationwide! read more here:
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We would like to extend our gratitude to Representative Danny Davis for his support of dialysis patients and H.R. 8594.
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And don’t forget to Like and Follow
@DPCEdCenter
for updates on future events, including our support group and our next webinar: “Getting to Know Your High Blood Pressure”
#wellness
#MentalHealthMatters
If you missed our webinar "From Survive to Thrive: Tips for Living Well with a Chronic Illness", check out the recording and learn how to cope with stress, balance your emotions, and find beauty in your everyday life.
You can watch the full webinar here:
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One of the benefits of being a member of DPC is the opportunity to apply to participate in our annual fly-in held in Washington, DC where members discuss with lawmakers the issues that affect dialysis patients. Become a member:
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The deadline to register to vote in CA is Oct 22. This is an especially important year to get your voice heard as the outcome of the election can impact the over 84,000 individuals in CA with kidney failure.
#Prop8
Paid for by Dialysis Patient Citizens
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Our members ARE the patient voice. They take their stories and messages to any community, care provider, and elected leader who need to hear them. We've seen the patient voice help shape the present and future of kidney care, and we're very proud to help raise it!
T1: The patient voice is missing across healthcare.
The occasional bright spot doesn't outshine the industry's failures to include patients, from idea conception through the care journey.
Digital health companies that think tech first, not people first, often miss this.
#hcldr
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"Members of Congress should put themselves in patients’ shoes and write legislation which prevents private insurers from kicking dialysis patients off of their plans before the traditional 30-month window." - Sherry Robinson
Read Sherry's full letter:
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Analyn's husband Raymond had private insurance to cover his dialysis costs, but the recent Supreme Court decision could have changed that. She calls on
@RepRubenGallego
to
#PassRestorein24
and guarantee patients access to private coverage.
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