Let’s begin with this prediction: 2003 promises to be the most important year for kidney patients in Washington , since the Medicare entitlement to dialysis was enacted by Congress in 1972. Why? Because after several false starts over the past few years, both the President and Congress appear ready to move a new Medicare prescription drug benefit. However, at this time, details of Medicare drug proposals have not been released. The President seemed to indicate in his State of the Union address on January 28th that a drug benefit would only be available to Medicare patients who sign up for a private insurance plan. But press reports have the Administration backing off this proposal. AAKP will analyze each bill as it becomes available, asking how the new benefit would serve kidney patients, particularly what drugs will be covered and how much financial help will be given patients. AAKP will also be working to inform Congress of the needs of kidney patients. In fact, AAKP awarded Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the Medicare program, the first Congressional Leadership Medal, on March 23, 2003 , at AAKP’s Annual Medal of Excellence Dinner. Senator Grassley has been a leader in efforts to improve the quality of kidney patient care under Medicare. In addition, Medicare legislation may provide an opportunity for other improvements to the Medicare ESRD program. For example, changes could include other new Medicare benefits, such as chronic disease management; expanded dialysis options, such as daily dialysis and home dialysis; programs to increase organs for transplant; funding for AAKP’s peer education efforts; and new initiatives to prevent or slow the progression from chronic kidney disease to end-stage renal disease. The timetable for Medicare legislation may be fairly rapid – although don’t count on it. Under the fastest scenario, Congressional members and staff will draft Medicare proposals this spring, with public release of draft Medicare legislation sometime between May and June. Expect the House of Representatives to pass legislation before the Senate, perhaps by July, with final action by both houses in September or October. Let’s also be clear that kidney patients will have to be vocal to ensure our interests are reflected in Medicare legislation. Of course, advocacy is nothing new to AAKP. AAKP was founded by individuals with courage and boldness. Among the highlights of AAKP’s early lobbying efforts occurred in 1971 when AAKP was newly formed and called the National Association of Patients on Hemodialysis (NAPH). The vice president of NAPH, Shep Glazer, testified before the House Ways & Means Committee while hooked up to a still controversial dialysis machine! Before testifying, Glazer told reporters that, “Gentlemen, I am going to tell the Committee that if dialysis can be performed on the floor of the Congress, it can be performed anywhere. Kidney patients do not have to be confined to hospitals … I want to show the Committee what dialysis is really like. I want them to remember us.” Congress did remember, and in 1972 passed the Medicare entitlement to dialysis care – guaranteeing for the first time that all Americans with kidney disease would have access to lifesaving care. Kris Robinson is AAKP's Executive Director Washington Report, aakpRENALIFE, Vol. 18, No. 5, March 2003
Back
|
