Legislative Efforts to Improve Kidney Care
Through our work with Congress, KCP advocates for policies that improve the coordination of care and the understanding of chronic kidney disease, lower the barriers that block patients from accessing and choosing treatments, expand and enhance research efforts, and that reform the economics underlying the kidney care landscape so that financial incentives are aligned with patient goals.
KCP supports the following legislative efforts:
The Chronic Care Management Improvement Act of 2023
This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Jeff Duncan (SC-03), would facilitate better chronic care management for Medicare beneficiaries by eliminating cost-sharing for chronic care management services under Medicare. KCP joined an April 25th sign-on letter strongly endorsing this legislation, which can be seen here. Learn more.
Support for Additional NIDDK Funding in FY 2024 (March 24, 2023)
KCP joined a sign-on letter to House and Senate appropriations leaders supporting an increase of $168 million over its FY 2023 levels to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The letter is available here.
Supporting KidneyX Funding in FY 2024 Budget (Feb. 1, 2023)
KCP applauded Representatives Larry Bucshon (IN-08) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) for co-signing a letter urging the Biden Administration to increase investments in “KidneyX,” an initiative that supports kidney care research and innovation, in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Executive Budget. The press release can be seen here.
Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (H.R. 8594/S. 4750)
This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would ensure our nation’s most vulnerable patient populations and their families retain access to important health care benefits provided by private plans as Congress intended, and individuals with kidney failure are not prematurely shifted off their private plans and into Medicare. Learn more.
H.R. 8594
H.R. 8594 would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and preserve the breadth of the protections under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. The legislation, if passed, would restore protections intended by Congress in the original enactment of the language at issue in the Medicare Secondary Payor Act and ensure individuals living with end stage renal disease (ESRD) – or kidney failure– cannot be discriminated against based on their need for dialysis. Learn more.
Kidney Health Connect Act (S. 4307/H.R. 7878)
The Kidney Health Connect Act is bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve telehealth access to kidney care throughout America for the most vulnerable Americans living with kidney disease who depend on dialysis care, specifically. Learn more.
Letter on Pandemic Preparedness (August 2, 2021)
KCP submitted a letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) on their Pandemic Preparedness Effort. The letter is available here.
The Coordination, Accountability, Research and Equity for All Kidneys Act of 2021 (CARE for All Kidneys Act) (H.R. 3893)
This legislation would improve kidney disease research, prevention, surveillance, and treatment in minority populations and rural and underserved communities. KCP sent a letter to the bill co-sponsors, Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), in support of the legislation on July 23, 2021. Learn more.
House Dear Colleague Letter on KidneyX Appropriations (April 26, 2021)
Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Brian Babin (R-TX), and 55 co-signers submitted a letter to appropriators requesting $25 million in matching funds for KidneyX. Learn more.
Living Donor Protection Act (S. 377/H.R. 1255)
This legislation would protect living organ donors and promote organ donation by protecting living organ donors and removing barriers to donation. KCP sent a letter to the bill co-sponsors, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Cotton, Representative Nadler, and Representative Herrera Beutler, in support of the legislation on April 14, 2021. Learn more.
Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act (H.R. 1676)
This legislation, re-introduced on March 10, 2021, would expand access to Medigap insurance coverage for individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Learn more.
The Renal Anemia Innovation Support and Expansion (RAISE) Act
This legislation, re-introduced on April 30, 2021, would keep older patients with chronic kidney disease healthy by expanding Medicare to cover an effective oral treatment for renal anemia that can be taken in the safety of their own homes. Learn more.
