Miller Introduces Kidney Care Access Protection Act 

Washington, D.C. –  Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) along with Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (KCAPA). This bipartisan bill will strengthen Medicare’s kidney care benefits by ensuring sustainable reimbursement for dialysis providers, expanding access to patient education resources, and supporting a long-term payment pathway for new therapies and emerging technologies.

"Nearly 4,000 West Virginians are living with kidney failure and rely on dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant to survive. As co-chair of the Congressional Kidney Caucus, I’m proud to introduce the Kidney Care Access Protection Act – a commonsense solution that will bolster access to cutting-edge treatment options while helping kidney care providers weather inflationary pressures,” said Rep. Miller. 

“I am proud to champion the Kidney Care Access Protection Act. For Americans living with the kidney disease, this legislation would provide access to quality healthcare. This legislation makes critical improvements that ensures patients living with kidney failure can receive life-sustaining care,” said Representative Sewell. 

"We thank Congresswomen Miller and Sewell 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. 

“KCP is proud to support this bipartisan legislative effort to protect and expand care choices for individuals living with kidney disease and kidney failure,” said LaVarne A. Burton, Chair-Elect of Kidney Care Partners and President & CEO of the American Kidney Fund (AKF).

The nation’s kidney care community thanks Representatives Miller and Sewell for their long-standing commitment to those across the kidney care continuum. Critical innovations in the kidney care space have long lagged behind other chronic disease states, but if passed, this legislation would mark a major step forward in modernizing the nation’s kidney care system,” said Mahesh Krishnan, MD, MPH, MBA, Chair of Kidney Care Partners.

A copy of the bill text can be found HERE. 

Background

• Medicare has provided coverage for individuals living with kidney failure, regardless of age since 1972.
• Dialysis providers in rural communities are facing growing financial pressure as inflation rises while reimbursement rates remain unchanged.
• These outdated payment policies are also not equipped for innovative and breakthrough technologies in the kidney care space.
• 3,589 West Virginians are suffering from kidney failure, with 2,416 of those being on dialysis.
• 37 million Americans suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)