Action Alert
Tell the U.S. Senate to End the 36-Month Limit
on Immunosuppresive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplants
Call to Action:
The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Transplant Patients Act of 2007 (S. 2320) was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate. The bill extends Medicare coverage for anti-rejection medications beyond the current 36-month limit.
Passing this bill in Congress is a top priority for the PKD Foundation.
Overview:
More than 60 percent of PKD patients will end up with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD or kidney failure), requiring them to go on dialysis or undergo kidney transplants to live. While Medicare covers dialysis indefinitely, it will only cover vital immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplants for 36 months, unless the transplant patient is also eligible for Medicare coverage because of age or disability (the individual is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance).
Once the 36-month period ends, transplant patients are forced to find other ways to pay for these expensive medications. (Those who are ESRD beneficiaries, but are not 65, are not eligible for the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.) Many patients cannot afford immunosuppressive drugs without the help of Medicare, increasing the chances they will be forced back on dialysis or to undergo another transplant.
Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs is far less costly ($15,000 per year) than resuming kidney dialysis (at least $50,000 per year) or the cost of a transplant ($100,000 per transplant).
This legislation ends the 36-month cap for anti-rejection medications. In addition to the PKD Foundation, this bill also has the support of the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the Association of Organ Procurement Organization, among other groups.
Congressional Action So Far:
The legislation was introduced on November 7, 2007, by U.S. Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Thad Cochran (R-MS). The bill was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration.
The House version of this bill (H.R. 3282) was introduced on August 1, 2007. There are currently 39 co-sponsors. To see our Action Alert for this bill, click here.
Requested Action:
Contact your Senators and tell them to co-sponsor and support S. 2320.
Here’s What to Do:
1. Click on the links below to find contact information for your Representative.
Complete U.S. Senate contact list (xls)
Don’t know which elected officials represent you? Click here for the web site maintained by Congress.org. You’ll need your zip code and street address to identify your Representative.
2. Use the information provided from the links above to contact your Representative. You can fax a letter, make a phone call or send an e-mail to your elected official.
Sample letter to Senators (doc)
Four Points to Remember:
- Use the helpful tips section of the PKD Foundation web site for guidelines on calling, writing a letter or sending e-mail to your elected officials.
- Most Representatives will only accept and respond to messages left from constituents who actually live in their districts. We appreciate your efforts to make your voice heard about PKD issues. Your efforts will be most effective when you contact those elected officials that actually represent you.
- The sample letters are provided as a guide. Use them as is, or feel free to use your own personal story (just make certain you include the specific request). Your personal story adds a human dimension to the suffering caused by PKD and will have an impact!
- If you must send a letter by regular mail, DO NOT send it to the elected official’s Washington, D.C., office. Security procedures implemented since 9/11 prevent the timely delivery of regular mail. Instead, mail your letter to your elected official’s state or district office. Addresses for these offices can by found on the Congress.org website.
Become a PKD Champion and join our Action Alerts team!
Action Alerts are used when important legislative or regulatory issues affecting PKD come before Congress. We will send an e-mail notice describing the issue and how it relates to you and others affected by PKD. Action Alerts will include sample letters and other ways to contact your elected officials in Washington. You will be contacted only when issues arise that need your attention. To become a PKD Champion, click here.