WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Scott Brown (R-MA) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would extend immosuppressive drug coverage for kidney transplant recipients.
The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act would assist thousands of Americans under the age of 65 who are being cut off from Medicare after 36 months by extending coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients.
Also cosponsoring today’s legislation were U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ben Cardin (D-MD). Congressman Michael Burgess, MD, and Congressman Ron Kind are planning to introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives within the next few weeks.
“Of the 89,000 patients waiting for an kidney transplant, those patients lucky enough to undergo a successful transplant should not have to worry about being able to pay for the medication that will reduce the risk of organ rejection,” said Durbin. “In 2000, Congress passed legislation that provided older or disabled individuals lifetime coverage for immunosuppressive drugs through Medicare. Today’s legislation will extend that coverage to all patients trying to live healthy lives after kidney transplants.”
According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), approximately 28,000 organ transplants were performed last year in the United States. The vast majority of transplants—over 16,800 Americans in 2010—are provided to patients in need of a kidney because they are living with end-stage renal disease. However, for thousands of working Americans who had not yet reached 65 and were not disabled, treatment was cut off after 36 months regardless of their ability to pay for lifesaving therapy that can run more than $1,000 a month.
“Our legislation is intended to help people with end-stage renal disease and offset long-term costs to the government for treatment of this condition. Kidney transplants are often the best option for these patients, and this bill would help in providing the immunosuppressive drugs needed to make transplants successful. In states like Mississippi with high incidences of diabetes and related kidney failures, extending this coverage to younger patients could mean improved health and quality of life,” Cochran said.
