Kidney Care Partners (KCP) is a coalition of more than 30 organizations, comprised of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, care providers, researchers, and manufacturers, dedicated to working together to improve quality of care for individuals with kidney diseases.
Today, KCP members are asking members of Congress to:
1. Co-Sponsor the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act
This legislation not only addresses the workforce crisis and seeks to protect access to innovative therapies, but it also sets the stage for the future of kidney care. The bill would require CMS to adopt a forecast error adjustment to make sure annual updates more accurately reflect inflationary costs. It would require a stable reimbursement mechanism for innovative drugs and devices when added to the bundle and make sure MA enrollees have access to these technologies as well. Moreover, it would expand Medicare beneficiaries’ access to prevention and screening and kidney disease education and expand Medigap to help Medicare beneficiaries with kidney failure with out-of-pocket costs.
Supporting Materials:
Legislation Section by Section
Senate Letter to OMB Regarding the Forecast Error Adjustment
House Letter to OMB Regarding the Forecast Error Adjustment
2. Support Efforts to Prevent Insurance Discrimination for Individuals with Kidney Failure
Last summer a divided U.S. Supreme Court interpreted the Medicare Secondary Payer Act in a manner that removed the previous Congressional prohibition on plans discriminating against individuals with kidney failure who require dialysis. KCP encourages lawmakers to support Congressional efforts to restore critical anti-discriminatory protections for individuals with kidney failure who want to retain their private health insurance coverage before having to enroll in Medicare after the coordination period. KCP believes that the savings generated by a further delay on oral-only drugs being added to the bundle should be invested back to support this kidney community policy priority.
Supporting Materials:
One-Pager: Support the Restore Anti-Discrimination Protections for Dialysis Patients Act
3. Join the Kidney Caucus
The bipartisan Congressional Kidney Caucus has served as an informal group of bipartisan members dedicated to educating members of Congress and the American people about issues related to kidney health.