Add your voice to the thousands across the country telling Congress to support The Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act.
In 1972, Congress made a commitment to cover treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) regardless of their age or disability status. Today, Medicare covers the costs for an ESRD patient to receive a transplant but only covers their anti-rejection medication – one of the key factors that ensures long-term organ health – for 3 years after surgery.
Current policy hurts patients
If a patient cannot afford their medications, the transplanted kidney will be rejected and the patient will have to return to dialysis – a costly and burdensome treatment that reduces the patient’s overall health outcomes and quality of life.
More than 70% of U.S. kidney-transplantation programs reported that their patients had difficulties paying for immunosuppressive medications.
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The solution is simple
The Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act would be a straightforward solution to an unnecessary problem.
This bipartisan legislation will:
Allow kidney transplant recipients to continue receiving Medicare coverage for their immunosuppressive medications
Reduce the need for dialysis – a costly and burdensome treatment – and repeated kidney transplants, saving both lives and money over time
Result in significant savings to Medicare over ten years while also saving patients and caregivers from overwhelming medical bills
There is broad community support for this bill
The following groups support this legislation:
National Kidney Foundation
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
American Society of Transplantation
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
American Association of Kidney Patients
Association of Organ Procurement Organizations
Dialysis Patient Citizens
Renal Physicians Association
United Network for Organ Sharing
The benefits are clear
The patient will live a longer and happier life
The donor and their family will feel that their sacrifice was worth the cost
Result in significant savings to Medicare