Ask your Representative to Extend Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage

[okarol]

Build Support in the House of Representatives to Extend Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage
Ask your Representative to Extend Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage    

Take Action! http://capwiz.com/kidney/issues/alert/?alertid=13252856&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
 
Help us help people with kidney transplants!  Ask your Representative to co-sponsor HR 1458, legislation that would extend Medicare coverage of  immunosuppressive drugs beyond the first 36 month after transplant.  This legislation is one of the key provisions in the NKF End the Wait! Campaign.  The bill will help transplant recipients maintain their kidney function, and will allow others to consider a transplant because they know the expensive drugs they need will be available without a time limitation. 

Organ transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive drugs for the life of the transplant to help prevent the body from rejecting the organ.  Currently, Medicare pays for most kidney transplants but covers drugs for only 36 months post-transplant as part of the Medicare ESRD benefit. After that, kidney recipients must pay for immunosuppressive drugs through private insurance, public or pharmaceutical programs or pay out-of-pocket.  (Medicare covers drugs without a time limit if the patient qualifies because of age or disability status.) 

Immunosuppressive drugs are expensive, but the alternative is even more costly.  Medicare spends an average of  $17,000 annually per transplant patient.  If the kidney transplant fails, the person returns to dialysis at which point, Medicare spends an average of $71,000 per year on a dialysis patient.  And quality of life often suffers too. 
 
Please take a moment to write your Representative today and ask him or her to co-sponsor HR 1458.  Share your story, or the story of a loved one, about the experience with immunosuppressive drug coverage.  Thank you!

[Zach]

 

[Bill Peckham]

And the cost of those who don't pursue a transplant because of the 3 year limit

[paul.karen]

 
Done and thx.

last time you put one of these up for Organ donation month i could reply to both dems and repubs.  This time i could only reply to one of them.

last month after i emailed my congressman (thx to you) i noticed he was running commercials all month.  I realize it wasnt due to me.  But 9it made me feel good to see the commercials.
Thx for all you do again Karol.........

[rookiegirl]

I sent my 2 weeks ago and received a reply email back from my Congressman's office stating they have received my email and will review.  I wonder if I should do it again.  Just because its that IMPORTANT.

RG

[okarol]

Just got this email:

Dear Mrs. Franks:

 

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the "Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2009." I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

 

On March 10, 2009, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced the "Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act" (S. 565). This bill would provide continued coverage for immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries under the Medicare program that have received a kidney transplant, and whose coverage would otherwise expire. This bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance, of which I am not a member. Please know that I will keep your support in mind should this legislation come before me in the Senate.

 

Again, thank you for contacting me. If you have any further comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein
        United States Senator

Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ENewsletterSignup.Signup.

[rookiegirl]

I received 2 days ago a letter from the office of Richard Burr stating he too is for the extention of immunosuppressive drug coverage.

[peleroja]

I did this a while back, and just got an email from Laura Richardson.  In no way did she address the issue for which I had written.  All she talked about was health insurance for everyone.  This is from her email:

"You will be pleased to learn that I will be re-introducing my healthcare bill, "Equal Rights for Health Care, Title 42."  As a fundamental right, all Americans should have equal access to healthcare."

Maybe if we just keep bombarding them with emails and letters something will be done.

[TiffanyJean]

Sent a letter to both the Reps! plus sent an email to all our family and friends who have been supporting us to help support us and all kidney patients by sending a letter to their reps too!!

Tiffanyjean