Policy and Politics News

The American Society of Transplantation opposes the Dialysis Patient Access to Integrated-care, Empowerment, Nephrologists and Treatment Services Demonstration Act, also known as the PATIENTS Demonstration Act, saying it would limit patient access to transplantation. The group joins dialysis provider Dialysis Clinic Inc., the American Association of Kidney Patients and the Kidney Care Alliance, which note the act would limit patient choice and favors the country’s two largest for-profit dialysis organizations.

The California Medical Association, which represents 43,000 physicians in the state, opposes a proposition heading for the state’s November 2018 ballot that would limit profits earned by dialysis providers.

If you throw a party and no one comes, maybe what you are offering is not appealing.

The FDA has approved Jynarque as the first treatment in the U.S. for adult patients with rapidly progressing autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, the most common form of polycystic kidney disease.

A California bill that would restrict the American Kidney Fund and other third-party organizations from helping patients on dialysis pay commercial health plan premiums was recently approved by the California Senate Committee on Health and will move on to the appropriations committee before getting a full Senate vote.

Among the top stories on policies and politics related to nephrology are an effort by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, a Los-Angeles-based union, to help voters understand issues in the dialysis industry. Most recently, the group has targeted Arizona residents, encouraging them to approve a ballot measure this November that would limit revenues to 15% above the amount they spend on patient care. The group also supported Senate bill 1156 in California which would place strict criteria on programs like the American Kidney Fund’s Health Insurance Premium Program when paying health care premiums for a patient if it financially benefits the organization. Other stories include bipartisan legislation passed by Congress that will protect kidney patients and ensure funding for kidney disease programs, and recently signed legislation in Idaho that protects living organ donors from potential insurance discrimination.

Advocates from the American Society of Nephrology and the American Association of Kidney Patients recommended congress to support KidneyX, a new public-private partnership to accelerate innovation in preventing, diagnosing and treating kidney diseases.

A California legislator introduced a bill on March 22 that would limit acceptance of third-party payments for patients treated at dialysis clinics and drug treatment centers in the state.

The National Kidney Foundation applauded Congress for bipartisan legislation that will protect kidney patients and ensure funding for kidney disease programs.

Idaho Governor Clement Leroy “Butch” Otter recently signed landmark legislation that protects living organ donors from potential insurance discrimination.