Kidney Community States Bipartisan Bill Would “Measurably Improve Access To Quality Care, Expand Treatment Choice”

WASHINGTON, DC — Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s leading coalition of patient advocates, kidney disease professionals, dialysis care providers, researchers and manufacturers — commends Chairman Hatch, Ranking Member Wyden, Senators Isakson and Warner and fellow members of the Senate Finance Committee’s Chronic Care Working Group — for working closely with the kidney care community to put forth thoughtful, patient-centric recommendations and introducing S. 870, the CHRONIC Care Act of 2017.

Twenty-six million Americans are currently living with chronic kidney disease, or CKD, and 636,000 are experiencing kidney failure (called end-stage renal disease or ESRD).  ESRD patients often suffer from multiple comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, requiring more than eight different medications and at least two hospitalizations each year on average.  Further, for most patients with ESRD, thrice-weekly dialysis is required.

“Given the impact of chronic disease facing so many Americans in their daily lives, KCP applauds the Working Group’s efforts to recommend policies that will measurably improve access to quality care and expand treatment choice,” said Dr. Frank Maddux, chair of Kidney Care Partners.

Specifically, KCP supports the Working Group’s recommendations to do the following:

• Expand use of home dialysis therapy through use of telehealth services; and
• Extend authority for Special Needs Plans (C-SNP) without interruption.

“There is a clear opportunity for Congress to act on the Working Group’s patient-centric recommendations, which are not only good for patients, but also for taxpayers and the integrity of the Medicare program,” added Maddux.  “KCP looks forward to continued work with the Members of Congress and their staff who are focused on these important changes to our health care system and improvement of programs for patients suffering from CKD and ESRD.”

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