By Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation and kidney transplant recipient

After an intense 16 months of NKF laying the groundwork, I am pleased to announce another milestone in our CKDintercept initiative.  Landmark legislation, designed to help detect and treat CKD early, was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives on September 28th.

NKF Kidney Advocacy Committee members

Representatives Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), George Holding (R-NC), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) introduced H.R. 3867, which seeks to demonstrate early detection of CKD, combined with effective and coordinated care that engages patients in the decision-making process, can improve clinical results and lower healthcare spending.

The voluntary practitioner-led Medicare pilot program will tie Medicare payment to improvements in the early detection of CKD and the care patients receive. This bill will promote stronger collaboration between primary care and nephrology practitioners to preserve kidney health and provide them with the resources they need to make measurable improvements in the care of people with CKD. NKF initiated this landmark legislation and believes it can help change the pattern of how CKD is identified and treated, improving the outcomes and quality of life of patients with CKD.

For too long patients have asked why they were not diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) before learning they had kidney failure (ESRD). CKD affects 30 million people in the U.S. and, astonishingly, 96% of those with early kidney disease don’t know they have it.  

I ask you to join me in supporting this legislation by emailing and tweeting our Representatives and asking them to become co-sponsors of the bill.  You can help this program change lives for the better.  Support H.R. 3867  – 30 million Americans affected by kidney disease are counting on you!