Medicare and End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
SHIP is a federal program that educates citizens about Medicare services. In Hawaii, the program provides personalized, free, and unbiased information. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a condition whereby the kidneys no longer function. Patients require dialysis and kidney transplant to survive.
Describing ESRD
ESRD is a chronic kidney disease that affects human beings. It is characterized by declined kidney function. Patients will require dialysis to survive for more weeks (Kirchhoff, 2018).
Experts recommend transplants to help affected patients.
ESRD and Medicare
Medicare has a program intended to meet the demands of ESRD patients. For eligibility, patients should be aged 65 years or more (Kirchhoff, 2018). Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is available for those who have worked for enough
years. Individuals or family members can complete the enrolment process. A detailed plan for enrolling for ESRD Medicare exists depending on various conditions.
How Can We Increase Awareness of ESRD Medicare Services?
People with limited English abilities and other underserved groups are unaware of the ESRD Medicare program. SHIP can be expanded to increase awareness. The program can consider additional roles and responsibilities for volunteers and educators. Such professionals can work directly with persons in different communities.
A personalized approach is an approach for individuals with ESRD and other medical conditions (Colello, 2019).
The program can increase more workers and volunteers to support the provision of information targeting more ESRD patients. Continuous research is needed to identify evidence-based approaches for maximizing awareness.
Key Considerations for Eligible Persons with Limited English Language Abilities
Both SHIP and Medicare websites could be improved by including additional translation options. The approach meets the demands of individuals who use English as a second language. Personalized experiences are appropriate for persons planning to learn more about the available Medicare services (Kirchhoff, 2018). Login assistance needs to be expanded to meet the demands of persons with disabilities and limited income.
Additional use of pamphlets, notice boards, and publications will maximize awareness of the existing ESRD Medicare plans.
What are the Possible Outcomes?
These considerations and strategies will ensure that more ESRD patients are aware of the available Medicare programs. Such individuals from underserved backgrounds will be able to receive timely ESRD medical services.
Medicare will rely on SHIP to inform other groups. More patients with ESRD will be able to identify health plans and enroll accordingly depending on their needs.
The country as a whole will eventually record positive health outcomes and transform the life experiences of more citizens with ESRD.
References
Colello, K. J. (2019). State health insurance assistance program (SHIP). Congressional Research Service.
Kirchhoff, S. M. (2018). Medicare coverage of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Congressional Research Service.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). State health insurance assistance program (SHIP). Web.