Senate Support Needed for Dialysis Provisions

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Senate Support Needed for Dialysis Provisions
Kidney Care Quality and Education Act    

Take Action!
 

Over 335,000 Americans have dialysis at least 3 times per week to stay alive. Most of these people depend on Medicare to pay for treatments. Although dialysis has improved over the past decade, more can be done to improve the well-being of dialysis patients.

Ask your Senator to co-sponsor the Kidney Care Quality and Education Act (S. 691) to empower kidney patients to make the best treatment choices for them, and improve care for people on dialysis. Send a message to Congress now!

This bill would:
• Establish a Medicare education program for patients before they reach kidney failure to empower them to plan ahead and make the best choice for their situation. Classes would explain dialysis and transplant options, how to manage health conditions that accompany kidney disease, and coping with emotional and financial issues.
• Set up a three-year pilot program to look at how to improve the dialysis patient experience, and set standards and use rewards for providing quality care.
• Examine the barriers to home dialysis therapy and how to remove those barriers.
• Create a national training standard for dialysis technicians to ensure quality care.

The House of Representatives included many of these provisions in their recent Medicare reform legislation that passed in August. Now the Senate is considering what will be included in its Medicare reform legislation. By co-sponsoring this legislation, we can show there is support for these provisions in the larger Medicare bill.

Please act now and ask your Senators to support this important legislation!

Sincerely,
Jayne Mardock
Congressional Relations Director
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If you want to contact your representative you can enter your zip code at http://capwiz.com/kidney/issues/alert/?alertid=10364691&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id] and you will be given the opportunity to create a message. While it is helpful to use the form letter provided, it is much more effective to personalize the message. Begin the message by saying something direct, for example: "I am a California resident and I have been on hemodialysis for the last 8 years." Briefly describe how the legislation will affect you. Ask that they let you know they have received your email.