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Legislation Significantly Improves Kidney Care in America for Over 26
Million Americans Suffering from Kidney Disease; Community Commends
Legislators for Their Support
WASHINGTON, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to today's
passage of the Medicare bill (H.R. 6331), Kidney Care Partners (KCP) -- an
alliance of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, care providers and
manufacturers working together to improve quality of care for individuals
with kidney disease and kidney failure -- commends the United States
Congress for passing landmark legislation including vital End Stage Renal
Disease (ESRD) provisions, which recognize the importance of much needed
reform surrounding the ESRD program for the hundreds of thousands of
Americans suffering from kidney failure.
"The kidney community applauds the U.S. Congress for recognizing the
imperative need for kidney disease provisions for millions of Americans who
suffer from kidney failure," said Dr. Edward Jones, Chairman of KCP and
practicing nephrologist. "Because of today's historic vote, the millions of
Americans who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the millions more who
are at risk will have the tools and resources absolutely necessary to
better manage their own healthcare and understand the options that exist
for not only them, but also the entire kidney community composed of
doctors, care providers, and family members. We look forward to working
with Congress and the Administration in the coming months in the battle
against kidney disease."
Specifically, the Medicare program improvements passed today will:
-- Establish important education and prevention programs to help slow
the progression of kidney disease and kidney failure;
-- Revise the payment methodology for ESRD treatment;
-- Provide an inflation update to account for critical staffing demands
and services.
Each year, more than 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with kidney
failure and require dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to survive.
Today, approximately 400,000 patients in the United States are living with
kidney failure.
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