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:
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.
House Letter to CMS Regarding the ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) Mandatory Demonstration (Oct. 17, 2019)
Seventy-three bipartisan members of the House of Representatives submitted a letter to HHS Secretary Azar and CMS Administrator Verma urging the agency to address several serious design issues before implementing the proposed ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) mandatory demonstration. Read the letter here.
Letter to CMS Regarding the ESRD Prospective Payment System (April 19, 2019)
Sens. Blunt and Cardin wrote to HHS Secretary Azar and CMS
Administrator Verma requesting they take administrative actions to ensure the long-term stability of the Medicare End Stage Renal Disease program, including addressing the problems in the drug designation policy related to functional category drugs. The letter also recommends that CMS better align requirements under its ESRD quality improvement initiatives. Read the letter here.
House Dear Colleague Letter on KidneyX Appropriations (March 28, 2019)
Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), and 57 co-signers submitted a letter to appropriators requesting $25 million in matching funds for KidneyX. Read the letter here.
