Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Coronavirus (COVID-19) How to Stay Protected and What to Do If You Are Sick?
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ESRD Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit
Network 14 Texas ESRD Emergency Coalition (TEEC) toll-free hotline is here to support you during COVID-19. Please call TEEC at 866-407-3773 (press 2 for Spanish) for assistance. If this is a medical emergency, please hang up and call 911. Our ESRD Network of Texas staff are here to assist with basic questions concerning the COVID-19 virus. For example:
- Inability to eat during treatment
- Change of dialysis treatment times for social distancing
- What to do about public transportation?
- What happens if patient decline to wear a mask?
- What happens if I run out of PPE supplies?
Your call will be answered in the order of receipt. Please note the ESRD Network of Texas staff are not medically trained to provide medical advice. You can also find information and resources on the TEEC website at Texasteec.org or the ESRD Network of Texas news links below.
Disaster Announcement and Government Resources
CMS Offers Comprehensive Support for Louisiana and Texas with Hurricane Laura
Texas Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing Centers
Texas COVID-19 Mental Health Hotline 1-833-986-1919 additional information available here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) and Requests
- 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- COVID Dallas County Sanitizer Requests
Webinar Announcements
WEBINARS:
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response (ASPR)
HPH Sector Engagement Opportunities August 17-27, 2020
HPH Sector Engagement Opportunities August 25th- September 24, 2020
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS Telemedicine Hack: A 10-week learning community to accelerate telemedicine implementation for ambulatory providers July 22nd- Sep. 23rd
ESRD Network of Texas Webinars:
COVID-19 Webinar Home Dialysis in the COVID-19 Era: The Bittersweet Combo Bittersweet Combo August 19, 2020 at 2-3 pm CST
American Society of Nephrology
New NTDS Targeting Zero Infections FREE Webinar: Standardizing the Blood Culture Collection Process in the Outpatient Dialysis Facility
American Society of Nephrology and Diabetic Kidney Disease Collaborative 2020 Videoconference Series beginning August 18, 2020- December 10, 2020
CMS
ESRD NCC
HRSA Public Health Webinar Series: National Minority Donor Awareness Month- Aug 24, 2020 from 2 to 3:30 pm EST / 1-2:30 CST REGISTER HERE
Join the COVID-19 Bi-weekly Quickinars for People with Kidney Disease Register Here
- These 30-minute events feature patient advocates and subject matters experts presenting on timely Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) topics and answering your questions.
Additional Webinars
AAKP Back to School: COVID-19 Considerations for Pediatric Kidney Patients & Kidney Patient Households
AAKP Coronavirus and Kidney Patients Update - A CDC Expert Webinar hosted by AAKP- August 25, 2020 - 1:00 to 2:00 pm EDT Register Here
AAKP Understanding Genetic Conditions: What You Need to Know August 14, 2020 - 1:00 to 2:00 pm EST Register Today
AAKP Patient Voice Patient Choice National Patient Meeting September 11-12, 2020 Register Today
Houston Methodist Monthly Transplant Education Webinar Series: Kidney Transplant Power to Choose for Patients and Support Team Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 4pm
Houston Methodist Monthly Transplant Education Webinar Series: Kidney Transplant Updates For The Healthcare Providers Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 10am
Need To Know

This month's "Need to Know"...
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) News
- Governor Greg Abbott today declared a State of Disaster 05/31/2020
- CMS News: President Trump Announces Lower Out of Pocket Insulin Costs for Medicare’s Seniors
KCER Watch FDA MedWatch
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: FDA Safety Communication: Risk of False Results with the Curative SARS-Cov-2 Test for COVID-19
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Nostrum Laboratories, Inc. Expands Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Metformin HCl Extended Release Tablets, USP 750 mg, Due to N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Content Above the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) Limit
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: FDA Statement on Following the Authorized Dosing Schedules for COVID-19 Vaccines
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Baxter Healthcare Recalls Baxter SIGMA Spectrum Infusion Pumps with Master Drug Library
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Recommendations on Providing Clear Instructions to Patients Who Self-Collect an Anterior Nares (Nasal) Sample in a Health Care Setting for SARS-CoV-2 Testing
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Becton Dickinson (BD) CareFusion 303 Inc. Recalls Alaris™ Syringe and Alaris™ PCA Modules Due to Potential Incorrect Display of Syringe Types and/or Sizes
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Mylan Initiates Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Four Lots of Amiodarone HCl Injection, USP and Tranexamic Acid Injection, USP Due to Carton Label Mix-Up
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: FDA updates on hand sanitizers
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Bayshore Pharmaceuticals, LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets USP, 500 mg and 750 mg
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: CME America Updates Recall of BodyGuard Infusion Pump System Due to Risk of Over and Under-infusion
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Hand Sanitizers: FDA Updates on Recalls Due to Dangerous, Potential Presence of Methanol (Wood Alcohol)
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: 4e Brands North America Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Hand Sanitizer Due to Potential Presence of Undeclared Methanol (Wood Alcohol)
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: False Positive Results with BD SARS-CoV-2 Reagents for the BD Max System - Letter to Clinical Laboratory Staff and Health Care Providers
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Mylan Initiates Voluntary Nationwide Recall of One Lot of Daptomycin for Injection, Due to The Presence of Particulate
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Hand Sanitizers with Methanol
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Granules Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablets USP, 750 mg Due to the Detection of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Impurity
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Letter to Health Care Providers- Important Information on the Use of Serological (Antibody) Tests for COVID-19
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Remdesivir by Gilead Sciences: FDA Warns of Newly Discovered Potential Drug Interaction That May Reduce Effectiveness of Treatment
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Metformin Hydrochloride
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Use the Correct Cycle and Compatible N95 Respirators When Decontaminating Respirators
- KCER FDA MedWatch: Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Certain Lots of NP Thyroid® (Thyroid Tablets, USP) Due to Super Potency
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Use of Serological (Antibody) Tests for COVID-19 - Letter to Health Care Providers
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Severe Illness Associated with Using Non-Pharmaceutical Chloroquine Phosphate to Prevent and Treat Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: BodyGuard Infusion Pump System by CME America - Class I Recall
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: All Ranitidine Products (Zantac): Press Release - FDA Requests Removal
- KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Flowchart to Identify and Assess 2019 Novel Coronavirus
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China
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KCER Winter Storms Kidney Patient Emergency Contact KCER Helpline 1866.901.3773
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Mylan Pharmaceuticals Initiates Voluntary Nationwide Recall of One Lot of Alprazolam Tablet
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Hospira, Inc., Issues A Voluntary Nationwide Recall for one lot of BACTERIOSTATIC WATER for Injection, USP, due to a Potential Lack of Sterility Assurance
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: The FDA has announced a Class II recall of 59 lots of Baxter Revaclear 300 Dialyzer, Product Code 114745L, and 3 lots of Baxter Revaclear 400 Dialyzer, Product Code 114746L
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Alerts Providers and Patients to Check for Premature Battery Depletion in Certain Medtronic Pacemakers: FDA Safety Communication
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch:Medex Supply Dist, Inc. issues Nationwide Recall of CoaguChek Test Strips
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch:Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Amlodipine/Valsartan Combination Tablets and Amlodipine/Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide Combination Tablets
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Sandoz Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of One Lot of Losartan Potassium and Hydrochlorothiazide
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: SGLT2(sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) Inhibitors for Diabetes: Drug Safety Communication - Regarding Rare Occurrences of a Serious Infection of the Genital Area
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Accord Healthcare Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets USP 12.5 Mg Due to Labeling Mix-up.
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: Hepatitis Updates
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KCER Watch FDA MedWatch: AuroMedics Pharma LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection 3.375 grams per vial
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KCER Watch "FDA announces voluntary recall of several medicines containing valsartan following detection of an impurity"
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KCER Watch "Hospira Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Daptomycin for Injection Lyophilized Powder for Solution, Due to Infusion Reactions"
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KCER Watch "Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics: FDA Requires Labeling Changes Due to Low Blood Sugar Levels and Mental Health Side Effects"
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KCER Watch Safety and Health Topics: Emergency Preparedness Bulletin May 2018
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KCER Watch-Piperacillin and Tazobactam for Injection, USP 3.375 g Vials by AuroMedics Pharma: Recall - Vials Contain Particulate Matter
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KCER Watch- Ampicillin and Sulbactam for Injection USP, 3 g Single-Dose Vials by AuroMedics Pharma: Recall - Presence of Red Particulate Matter
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KCER Watch Safety and Health Topics: Emergency Preparedness Bulletin - The Federal Emergency Management Agency Invites Whole Community to Participate in National Level Exercise- April 2018
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KCER WatchSafety and Health Topics: Emergency Preparedness Bulletin - Grant Funding Available to Help Communities Prepare for, Withstand, and Recover from Disaster-March 2018
"In Previous Need to Know News"...
- American Association of Kidney Patients- AAKP Engages America and Congress During National Kidney Month
- Safety and Health Topics: Emergency Preparedness Bulletin January 2018
- New Medicare cards are coming soon. For additional information please visit www.cms.gov
- Affordable Healthcare Coverage 2018 enrollment ends Dec. 15, 2018
- Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing & Technology
- New Medicare Card
- KCER Watch November 2017
- NOTICE City of Rosenberg Change Water Disinfectants
- NOTICE City of Richmond Change Water Disinfectants
- Portable Dialysis
- Updated “Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide for People on Dialysis”
- Forum Matters Newsletter
- The Importance of Patient Education
- National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistance
Zika Virus Information
Zika Information - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- All about Zika
- Areas with Zika
- Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure
- Guidelines for Travelers Visiting Friends and Family in Areas with Zika
- Pregnant Women with Any Laboratory Evidence of Possible Zika Virus Infection in the United States and Territories
- Transmission & Risks
Dialysis Resources
Special Alerts & Recalls
New Medicare Card Project Special Open Door Forum — Tuesday, January 23rd from 2 PM to 3 PM ET
This call will educate State Medicaid Agencies, Medicaid providers, Managed Care Organizations, Medicaid partners, and other Medicaid stakeholders about the change from Social Security Number-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers to new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs). A question and answer session follows the presentation. This is the same presentation given on November 9.
CMS discusses:
- Background and implementation
- MBI format
- Timeline and milestones, including the transition period
- Beneficiary outreach and education
- How to get ready for the new number
Dial in at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.
- Dial-In Number: 800-837-1935; conference ID #: 8259057
- TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 800-855-2880
For More Information
- New Medicare Project website
- Transcripts webpage
Provider Ombudsman, Dr. Eugene Freund: NMCProviderQuestions@cms.hhs.gov
Low Volume Appeals Initiative- National Provider Call (NPC): CMS will host a Medicare Learning Network event on Tuesday January 9, 2018 from 1:30 to 2:30pm. This NPC will cover the logistics of this settlement process. Please submit your questions in advance to MedicareSettlementFAQs@cms.hhs.gov and include “Low Volume Appeal Settlement Process January NPC” in the subject line. Questions received in advance may be addressed during the call or referenced in materials following the call. Registration details will be available here: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/NPC/National-Provider-Calls-and-Events.html.
Statement by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on efforts to address impact of IV fluid shortages following hurricane destruction and resolve manufacturing shortfalls - November 2017 Update on the efforts by the FDA to address IV fluid shortages exacerbated by Hurricane Maria and advice for hospitals in managing the shortage
Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP, 750 mg/vial by Hospira: Recall - Presence of Particulate Matter - September 2017 Hospira is voluntarily recalling one lot of Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP, 750 mg/vial (NDC 0409-6531-02) lot 632153A, to the hospital/retailer level. The recall was due to a confirmed customer report for the presence of particulate matter, confirmed as glass, within a single vial. To date, Hospira has not received reports of any adverse events associated with this issue for this lot. Hospira has initiated an investigation to determine the root cause and corrective and preventive actions.
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: FDA Statement - August 2017 Based on data from two recently halted clinical trials, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today is issuing this statement to inform the public, health care professionals, and oncology clinical investigators about the risks associated with the use of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with dexamethasone and an immunomodulatory agent (lenalidomide or pomalidomide) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is not approved for treatment of multiple myeloma.
Pravastatin Sodium Tablets by International Laboratories: Recall – Mislabeling - August 2017 International Laboratories, LLC is voluntarily recalling one (1) Lot of Pravastatin Sodium Tablets USP 40 mg packaged in bottles of 30 tablets, to the consumer level due to mislabeling. The product is labeled as Pravastatin Sodium Tablets USP 40 mg but contained Bupropion Hydrochloride XL 300 mg tablets. The affected product is NDC# 54458-925-16; Lot# 115698A
Liquid Drug Products Manufactured by PharmaTech and Distributed by Rugby Laboratories and Possibly Other Companies: FDA Advisory - Not to Use - August 2017 FDA is advising health care professionals and patients not to use any liquid product manufactured by PharmaTech LLC, Davie, Florida, due to Burkholderia cepacia contamination and the potential for severe patient infection. Rugby Laboratories, Livonia, Michigan, announced a voluntary recall on August 3, 2017, of two such products – Diocto Liquid and Diocto Syrup, both oral liquid docusate products – manufactured by PharmaTech.
Novo Nordisk Recalls Cartridge Holders In Certain Novopen Echo® Insulin Delivery Devices Due to Potential Health Risks - July 2017 Novo Nordisk is initiating a recall of insulin cartridge holders used in a small number of NovoPen Echo batches because they may crack or break if exposed to certain chemicals, like certain cleaning agents. Using a device with a cracked/broken cartridge holder may result in the device delivering a reduced dose of insulin which could potentially lead to high blood sugar.
Clindamycin Injection ADD-Vantage Vials by Alvogen Recall - Lack of Sterility Assurance - June 2017 Alvogen is voluntarily recalling seven lots of Clindamycin Injection USP ADD-Vantage Vials to the hospital/retail level due to microbial growth detected during a routine simulation of the manufacturing process, which represents the potential introduction of microorganisms into the product. Clindamycin Injection is manufactured for Alvogen by Hospira Inc., a Pfizer Company.
Chlorhexidine Gluconate: Drug Safety Communication – Rare but Serious Allergic Reactions - February 2017 FDA is warning that rare but serious allergic reactions have been reported with the widely used skin antiseptic products containing chlorhexidine gluconate. Although rare, the number of reports of serious allergic reactions to these products has increased over the last several years.
Recall for Over 205,000 Fresenius 2008 Dialysis Machines due to UF Rate Errors - January 2017 When the UF Rate, Goal or Time is adjusted using the up and down arrow keys, and the change is cancelled by using the esc key, the cancelled UF Rate is actually being executed rather than rate displayed on the machine.
Tego Connector Recall - January 2017 The Tego Needle Free Access Device is intended for use as an accessory to a vascular access device (catheter) used in Hemodialysis or as an accessory to an Intravascular Administration Set for the administration or withdrawal of fluids to a patient through a cannula or needle placed in the vein or artery. The Tego is a needle-free capping device which closes the end of the catheter. The Tego will permit access to the catheter without the use of needles and therefore passively aid in the reduction of needle stick injuries.