A statement from John P. Butler, chair of Kidney Care Partners (KCP) and president & CEO of Akebia Therapeutics, regarding the coronavirus relief package:

“Kidney Care Partners commends bipartisan members of Congress for recognizing the critical need to ensure that individuals living with kidney transplants can continue to access life-saving medications indefinitely to preserve their transplanted organ.

The indefinite extension of immunosuppressant coverage under Medicare for individuals living with kidney transplants beyond the current 36-month limited coverage will prevent the loss of viable kidneys and save lives.  Further, this extension will make more kidneys available to the more than 100,000 Americans on transplant waiting lists by avoiding re-transplantation of kidneys lost from those who cannot afford post-transplant medications.

This extension is good for patients, good for Medicare, and good for taxpayers, and long overdue.”

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