AAKP recently sent out several letters to policy makers in Washington, D.C., requesting the passage of the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2009. The letters were sent to members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, members of the Senate Finance Committee and members of the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health. The bill would extend coverage for kidney transplant recipients beyond the first 36 months after transplantation.
 
AAKP believes providing lifetime immunosuppressive drug coverage would improve transplant outcomes and enable more kidney patients who lack private insurance to consider transplantation. Individuals with a functioning kidney transplant also require less Medicare spending than an individual on dialysis.
 
AAKP encourages all kidney patients to contact their members of Congress to request the passage of this important legislation.

This article originally appeared in the July 2009 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.