Supporting Patient-Centered Care and Promoting Innovations Across the Kidney Care Continuum
About Us
WHO WE ARE
Kidney Care Partners is a non-profit coalition of more than 30 organizations, comprising patients, dialysis professionals, physicians, nurses, researchers, therapeutic innovators, transplant coordinators, and manufacturers.
THE STATE OF KIDNEY DISEASE IN AMERICA
This docuseries reveals the human side of kidney disease through everyday experiences. Watch as patients, doctors, nurses, and care partners navigate a complex healthcare system together. Their stories show both the challenges and the resilience that numbers alone can’t capture.
- 90% of dialysis costs are covered by Medicare and Medicaid, reflecting the significant public health burden. Certain populations face higher risks, including older adults, minority groups, and those with lower incomes.
- 1 in 7 Americans live with chronic kidney disease (CKD) – that’s 37 million people across the country. CKD is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States, affecting people of all backgrounds.
- 800,000+ people have progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), where kidney function drops below 15%. At this critical stage, life depends on dialysis treatments or kidney transplantation.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease? / Episode One
Nephrologists Samira Farouk of Mt. Sinai Hospital, Holly Matix-Kramer of Loyola Chicago University, and transplant nephrologist Alexander Wiseman of AdventHealth explain chronic kidney disease, its causes, who suffers from it, and the importance of raising awareness among both this population and the healthcare community.
Who is Affected by Kidney Disease? / Episode Two
Jane Patterson, ESRD patient, started dialysis in 2022. With multiple comorbidities (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and arthritis), hers is a complex case – like most people living with kidney disease. Dialysis and the support of a multidisciplinary care team helps her to continue her life amid her many challenges.
What are the Economics of Kidney Disease? / Episode Three
Jeanne De Sa of HealthsperienX and nephrologist Jeffrey Silberzweig of The Rogosin Institute, a non-profit organization, explain the razor-thin margins practices operate under – exacerbated by reimbursement models and rates lagging behind inflation. Ultimately, clinics that aren’t profitable will close, impacting access for patients.
Why Can’t More Patients Get Transplants? / Episode Four
Transplant nephrologist Alexander Wiseman of AdventHealth discusses the scarcity of kidneys available for transplants and the complex, inequitable and lengthy process patients must face to obtain a transplant. Hear from kidney transplant recipient, Jeff Cohn, who resorted to launching a public campaign to get his donated kidney. Wiseman addresses the need for slowing disease progression as well as advocacy and policy changes to alleviate patient burden and increase access to transplant.
What is a Dialysis Center Like? / Episode Five
Nurse Manny Casto explains how difficult dialysis is – as well as life on dialysis – and how the center care team works to support patients. Patients describe how dialysis affects their lives and the differential impact team members make. Casto talks about his bond with patients going through the physical, mental and social challenges of life on dialysis.
Can Dialysis be Delayed? /
Episode Six
Nephrologist Holly Matix-Kramer of Loyola Chicago University and renal dietitian Shelly Snyder describe the factors influencing the rise in kidney disease, the challenges in diagnosing CKD early on, care- and awareness/education-gaps, and how providers can help delay its progression.
Why is Important to Address Health Equity in Kidney Care? / Episode Seven
Nephrologists Neerav Shah of Stanford University, Holly Matix-Kramer of Loyola Chicago University and social worker Katherine Leenhouts explain social determinants of health, how they factor into healthcare, kidney disease and the population segment most likely to develop kidney disease.
Can the Rate of Home Dialysis be Increased? / Episode Eight
Nephrologist Martin Schreiber of the Cleveland Clinic explains different modality options, why patients choose their modalities, and why that may change during a patient’s disease journey. Two patients explain why their treatment choice works best for their circumstances.
More than 97K Americans are currently waiting for a kidney transplant.
More than 500K Americans are currently on dialysis.
More than 700K Americans are living with kidney failure (ESRD).
More than 130K Americans are diagnosed with kidney failure each year.
Approximately 37M Americans are living with chronic kidney disease.
NEWS
Nation’s Kidney Care Community Urges Legislators to Address Growing Kidney Disease Epidemic Impacting Nearly 40 Million Americans
WASHINGTON – Kidney Care Partners – the nation’s leading kidney care multi-stakeholder coalition representing patient advocates, physician organizations, health professional groups, dialysis providers, researchers, and manufacturers – convened today on Capitol Hill to demonstrate support for policies that would ensure improved access to care, continued kidney innovation, and protection of coverage choices for those living…
Kidney Community Congratulates Dr. Mehmet Oz on His Confirmation as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator
WASHINGTON, DC – Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s largest non-profit, non-partisan kidney care coalition dedicated to protecting access to care and comprised of more than 30 organizations, including patients, dialysis professionals, physicians, nurses, researchers, therapeutic innovators, transplant coordinators, and manufacturers – today congratulated Dr. Mehmet Oz on his U.S. Senate confirmation to serve as…
Kidney Care Partners Commends Senate Reintroduction of the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act
WASHINGTON – Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s largest non-profit, non-partisan kidney care coalition dedicated to protecting access and representing patients, dialysis professionals, physicians, nurses, researchers, therapeutic innovators, transplant coordinators, and manufacturers – today commended Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) for introducing the bipartisan Restore…