A resolution to urge the United States Congress to pass the Kidney Patient Access to Technologically Innovative and Essential Nephrology Treatments (PATIENT) Act of 2023.
Impact
The PATIENT Act, if passed, is expected to delay the implementation of a change in the payment methodology for oral-only medications crucial for kidney patients. Currently, Medicare payments to dialysis facilities cover a variety of services, but oral-only drugs are managed under Medicare Part D. Beginning in 2025, these medications would be integrated into the bundled payment system for dialysis. This shift poses a risk to patient access to these vital drugs. The resolution underscores the potential negative effects this change may have on those who already face significant healthcare challenges alongside ESRD.
Summary
House Resolution 285 urges the United States Congress to pass the Kidney Patient Access to Technologically Innovative and Essential Nephrology Treatments (PATIENT) Act of 2023. This resolution highlights the struggles of individuals living with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), emphasizing that over 808,536 Americans depend on oral phosphate binders essential for their survival. With more than one million adults in Michigan alone suffering from chronic kidney disease, the resolution articulates the urgent need for legislative action to protect access to necessary treatments for this vulnerable population, particularly among minorities and low-income communities.
Contention
Support for the PATIENT Act is founded on the belief that adjusting payment structures must consider the specific needs of kidney patients. Critics of the forthcoming changes argue that this transition could disproportionately affect underrepresented communities, particularly minorities who are over-represented among dialysis patients. There is concern that moving oral phosphate therapies into the ESRD payment system could complicate accessibility and affordability of essential medications, worsening health disparities already present in the system. Legislative discourse surrounding this resolution clearly indicates tension between economic policy decision-making and safeguarding equitable healthcare access.