Nation’s Largest Kidney Care Coalition Urges Congress to Pass the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (S. 2730/H.R. 6214)

WASHINGTON – Kidney Care Partners (KCP)—the nation’s leading kidney care multi-stakeholder coalition representing patient advocates, physician organizations, health professional groups, dialysis providers, researchers, and manufacturers—today released the following statement in reaction to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule on End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS), Payment for Renal Dialysis Services Furnished to Individuals with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program (QIP), and End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model (ETC):

While our members continue to review the final rule, KCP continues to be deeply concerned about the sustainability of the ESRD payment system, as the payment increase for 2026 yet again fails to reflect the actual inflationary increases in costs associated with providing high-quality kidney care.

At the same time, overly restrictive bundling policies—namely the Transitional Drug Add-on Payment Adjustment (TDAPA) and Transitional Add-on Payment Adjustment for New and Innovative Equipment and Supplies (TPNIES)—stifle innovation in kidney care by continuing to provide limited and inadequate reimbursement for products and therapies. These policies discourage the development and adoption of new therapies, leaving kidney patients without access to the same kind of innovations available to those with other chronic conditions, such as heart disease or cancer.

While the full impact of the rule remains to be seen, KCP continues to work alongside policymakers to advance the bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act (KCAPA) (S. 2730/H.R. 6214).  If passed, this legislation would stabilize reimbursement to kidney care providers and establish a long-term payment pathway for innovative drugs, treatments, and technologies.

KCP looks forward to working with both the Administration and Congress to address the systemic challenges facing the kidney care community to advance meaningful, pro-patient reforms to strengthen care and expand access to innovation.