| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 57 0262 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 540 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Gilliard of the 162 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | nd |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | , Glaize of the 67 |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | th |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | , Lupton of the 83 |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | rd |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | , and |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Henderson of the 113 |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | th |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | A RESOLUTION |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Urging the Congress of the United States to adopt legislation requiring the Medicare program |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | 1 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | to provide for lifelong coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for liver, heart, and lung 2 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | transplant recipients; and for other purposes.3 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, over 20,000 kidney transplants are performed annually in the United States,4 |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | along with approximately 9,000 liver transplants, 3,500 heart transplants, and 2,500 lung5 |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | transplants, saving lives and significantly reducing healthcare costs associated with chronic6 |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | diseases; and7 |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, absent eligible kidney transplant recipients, Medicare coverage of8 |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | immunosuppressive drugs is limited to 36 months following a transplant, leaving many9 |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | recipients without access to critical medications necessary to sustain their transplanted10 |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | organs, increasing their risk of organ rejection, costly hospitalizations, and a return to dialysis11 |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | treatment; and12 |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, annually, dialysis treatment costs Medicare approximately $90,000.00 per13 |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | patient, while immunosuppressive medications only cost between $10,000.00 and $15,000.0014 |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | per patient, demonstrating the financial efficiency of providing comprehensive lifelong15 |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | immunosuppressive medication coverage; and16 |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | H. R. 540 |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | - 1 - 25 LC 57 0262 |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, lifelong Medicare coverage for organ transplant recipients improves health |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 17 |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | outcomes, supports workforce reintegration, reduces healthcare disparities, and enhances the18 |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | emotional and psychological well-being of recipients; and19 |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | WHEREAS, such lifelong Medicare coverage for organ transplant recipients promotes equity20 |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | by addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in underserved and rural communities, while21 |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | aligning with national healthcare goals to ensure accessible, sustainable, and high-quality22 |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | care for all patients.23 |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF24 |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | GEORGIA that the members of this body urge the Congress of the United States to adopt25 |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | legislation requiring the Medicare program to provide for lifelong coverage of26 |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | immunosuppressive drugs for liver, heart, and lung transplant recipients in the same manner27 |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | as for kidney transplant recipients.28 |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Georgia supports initiatives that expand access to29 |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | post-transplant care, reduce healthcare costs, and promote equity in the healthcare system30 |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | through federal and state policies.31 |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32 |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the President of the United33 |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United34 |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | States Senate, and the members of the Georgia Congressional delegation.35 |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | H. R. 540 |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | - 2 - |
|---|