Washington, DC (June 29, 2026)— Kidney Care Partners (KCP), the nation’s largest kidney care coalition, today commented on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposal for the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System.  

“KCP appreciates that the proposed rule in part makes important strides to improve kidney care by expanding access to home dialysis training, incorporating phosphate binders into the bundle, and exploring important new directions for dialysis care,” said Colin Roskey, Executive Director of KCP. “At the same time, we’re disappointed that the proposed payment update falls well below the updates provided in other Medicare payment systems and does not adequately protect patient access to innovative therapies. Without stronger reimbursement for emerging drugs and technologies, this gap creates a real risk that patients could lose access to important innovations once temporary add-on payments expire.”

“In the wake of this proposed rule, Congress must act to pass the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (H.R. 6214 / S. 2730),” said LaVarne Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund and Chairwoman of Kidney Care Partners. “This proposal further demonstrates the need for a permanent pathway that ensures patients continue to benefit from advances in kidney care. Sustaining access to innovative therapies is critical to improving patients’ quality of life and health outcomes – and that’s exactly what this legislation will do.”

KCP looks forward to ongoing, constructive dialogue with CMS on the proposed rule, and submitting comments in a timely manner, on policies where we agree and where we see room for improvement.  

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About Kidney Care Partners

Kidney Care Partners is the nation’s largest kidney care coalition, comprised of patient advocates, care professionals, dialysis providers, researchers, and manufacturers dedicated to improving quality of care and outcomes for individuals with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease.