Policy - Honor the Gift

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.

The problem is costly

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.

Lives lost

Over a recent five-year period, an estimated 7,700 people needlessly lost their transplanted kidney and 900 patients prematurely died due to a lack of access to immunosuppressives.

Money lost

If the patient’s kidney is rejected, Medicare will have to begin paying for dialysis treatments again, costing the system over $86,000 per patient per year.

Over five years, it is estimated that Medicare has squandered nearly $1 billion in health-care costs.

Legislative tracker

How close are we to passing the bill? And how can I help?

Below are important milestones for advancing a bill into law. At each point, we need your support to urge Congress to take specific actions. We’ll keep track of progress right here.

Bill Introduction

A bill is introduced by members of either chamber of Congress. You can help make this happen by taking action.

Sign the Pledge

Committee Consideration

Congressional committees will review and pass the bill so that the full chambers can vote on it.

Floor Action

The Senate and House will vote on the bill after it is passed by each of their committees.

President Signs the Bill

The president signs a bill into law after it passes both the Senate and the House.

Stay up-to-speed on the progress of our bill by joining the email list and signing the petition.

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 to receive Medicare coverage for the purpose of immunosuppressive drugs only
Reduce the need for dialysis – a costly and burdensome treatment – and repeated kidney transplants, saving both lives and money over time

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
Medicare will save an estimated $200 million annually if anti-rejection medication was provided for the lifetime of the organ

Congress must act

Congress can and must do better to protect people living with transplants, honor their donors, and save Medicare money. This bill has been introduced 14 times in the past 15 years. Let’s make 2019 the year that this finally passes!

TAKE ACTION

Protect patients. Honor the gift.