Blackburn, Booker Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Kidney Care Access

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act that would strengthen Medicare's kidney care benefits by ensuring fair reimbursement for quality care and improving patient access to innovative treatments, devices, and technologies:

"The millions of Americans living with kidney disease deserve access to the highest-quality care available," said Senator Blackburn. "Our bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act would ensure patients can access innovative treatments while modernizing Medicare's payment system so that facilities can keep their doors open."

"Over 50 years ago, Congress made a promise to Americans suffering from kidney failure that they would receive the care they need through the Medicare program," said Senator Booker."Unfortunately, too many individuals still struggle to access quality care or receive the treatment they need when faced with a kidney disease diagnosis. The Kidney Care Access Protection Act will ensure Medicare reimbursements for kidney care are accurate, and that following a kidney disease diagnosis, patients have access to comprehensive, high-quality care every step of the way."

BACKGROUND

• Since 1972, Medicare has provided coverage for individuals living with kidney failure, regardless of age.
  
  
• Outdated payment policies haven't kept up with rising costs and have limited access to breakthrough technologies.

• Dialysis providers, particularly in rural areas, face financial strain as reimbursement levels have not kept pace with inflation.

THE KIDNEY CARE ACCESS PROTECTION ACT

The Kidney Care Access Protection Act would:

• Establish a long-term, sustainable Medicare payment pathway for innovative drugs, devices, and technologies.
  
  
• Implement a forecast error adjustment policy that accurately accounts for inflationary costs to help keep healthcare facilities financially viable.

ENDORSEMENTS

The Kidney Care Access Protection Act is endorsed by Kidney Care Partners, the American Kidney Fund, Dialysis Patient Citizens, and the Renal Support Network (RSN):

"Kidney disease has lagged behind other disease states in terms of access to innovative new therapies. Despite being one of the fastest-growing non-communicative diseases that impacts more than 35 million Americans, the number of new innovations ranks amongst the lowest for patients with kidney disease, in large part due to nuances of the payment system. The challenges that the kidney care community faces today require bold solutions. We thank lawmakers for introducing this bill to move us in the right direction as the first step to pursuing long-term reform that further benefits patients," said Mahesh Krishnan, MD, MPH, MBA, Chair of Kidney Care Partners.

"As the voice of the nation's kidney care community, Kidney Care Partners looks forward to working alongside policymakers to champion this legislation," said LaVarne A. Burton, Chair-Elect of Kidney Care Partners and President & CEO of the American Kidney Fund.

"We thank Senators Blackburn and Booker for introducing the Kidney Care Access Protection Act - a bipartisan solution that helps address the structural payment issues that have limited patients' access to care and innovations for years," said Hrant Jamgochian, CEO of Dialysis Patient Citizens.

"People with kidney failure should have access to innovative treatments by funds following the patients, and not a one size fits all model that discourages innovation and underfunds patient & physician choice. The Kidney Care Access Protection Act is a step forward," said Lori Hartwell, the Founder and President of the Renal Support Network (RSN).

RELATED

• Blackburn, Warner Introduce Bill to Lower Costs and Improve Access to Care for Rural Medicare Patients

Click here for bill text.