The National Kidney Foundation continues to show its leadership role in the fight against Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and its priorities in promoting detection, management, and transplantation programs.  In testimony submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, NKF discussed a number of initiatives along with three requests of Congressional appropriators.

Among the initiatives mentioned was NKF’s “CKD Intercept program.”  Funded by NKF, CKD Intercept is designed to help improve early detection and diagnosis of CKD by primary care practitioners.   The testimony also discusses NKF’s legislative efforts to remove the reimbursement barriers to earlier, better CKD care management by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a Medicare bundled payment demonstration for CKD management to primary care practitioners and nephrologists.

However, the primary focus of the testimony was NKF’s appropriations priorities. NKF is promoting the passage of Health and Human Services Appropriations bills that would increase funding for three programs focusing on kidney disease detection, management, and transplantation.

NKF urged the Appropriations Committees to provide $2.31 million for the CDC’s CKD program for FY 2017.  This first of its kind program consists of three projects to promote kidney health by identifying and controlling risk factors, raising awareness, and promoting early diagnosis and improved outcomes and quality of life for those living with CKD.

NKF supports the Friends of NIDDK request of $2.16 billion for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in FY 2017.  Many research proposals with the potential to lead to improved treatments, including reconstructing the kidney to restore function, remain unfunded.  Patients deserve better and we cannot allow these opportunities to slip away when the institute could fund this life saving research.

Finally, NKF urged the Appropriations Committees to provide $28.5 million for organ donation and transplantation programs in the HRSA Division of Transplantation (DoT).  Activities supported by DoT include initiatives to increase the number of donor organs, and the National Donor Assistance Program which helps individuals obtain a transplant by assisting living organ donors with expenses such as travel and subsistence that are not reimbursed by insurance, a health benefit program, or any other state or federal program.

You can read the full testimony submitted by NKF here (House / Senate).