Senate Bill 2320

I WAS NOT REALLY SURE WHERE TO PUT THIS MESSAGE, BUT IT IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ONE, SO MODERATORS, PLEASE TAKE NOTE. ONE OF OUR SENATORS IS SPONSORING A BILL IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD CHANGE MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS. CURRENTLY, MEDICARE PICKS UP THE TAB FOR TRANSPLANT PATIENTS FOR OUR MEDS FOR UP TO THREE YEARS AFTER TRANSPLANT. AT THE PRESENT TIME, IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS COST AN AVERAGE OF $17,300 PER YEAR. IF THEY REMOVE COVERAGE AFTER THREE YEARS, THE RECIPIENT MUST 1) GET PRIVATE INSURANCE TO COVER THE COST, 2) FIND A PUBLIC OR PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM TO COVER IT OR 3) PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET!! DICK DURBIN (D-ILL) IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO CHANGE THIS LAW TO COVER THE IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS FOR THE LIFE OF THE TRANSPLANT. SINCE THE COST OF DIALYSIS IS $68,000 PER YEAR AND IF YOU CANNOT FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR YOUR MEDS, YOU WILL BE GOING BACK ON DIALYSIS!!( oh no!!) HAVING MEDICARE PICK UP THESE DRUG COSTS MAKES SENSE, EVEN FROM THE TAXPAYER'S PERSPECTIVE AND FROM ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET A TRANSPLANT, BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE MORE KIDNEYS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE (BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE ANY DUE TO NOT HAVING THE CASH OR COVERAGE TO PAY FOR THE DRUGS) PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL!!! Here are some links to further explain what I am talking about:
Link on immunosuppressive drugs: http://www.kidney.org/news/pubpol/immunosuppressive.cfm (requires Adobe Reader)
Web pages for U.S. Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC