{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-honors-iowa-advocate-new-legislation-expand-eligibility-kidney-disease", "Rep. Axne Honors Iowa Advocate with New Legislation to Expand Eligibility for Kidney Disease Insurance", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Cynthia Axne", "A000378", "axne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep.Cindy Axne(IA-03)introduced new legislation that expands access to Medigap insurance coverage for all patients living with terminal kidneyillness, regardless of age.\nThe Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act is crafted and named in memory of John Jack Reynolds from Carlisle, who required decades oftreatment forkidney failure stemming from an accident he sustained atage 4. Jack's health condition inspiredhim to pursue a lifetime of advocacy for expanded coverage for others living with kidney disease.\nMy top priorities in Congress have been to protect those living with pre-existing conditions and making health care accessible for those in need of treatment,Rep. Axne said.For someone like Jack who had kidney disease from a young age, access to dialysis was critical  but withoutinsurance,the cost of treatments can be too far out of reach. This bill opens up existing insurance coverage options to cover these conditions for anyone who needs it to help thousands of Americanslive longer without causing financial ruin.\nFor Americans living with terminal kidney illness, known asend-stagerenal disease (ESRD), lack of access to Medicare or private insurance that covers dialysis can mean $72,000in annual out-of-pocket costsfor lifesaving treatment that has no alternative.\nSupplemental coverage for kidney treatmentsand medicationsis available throughprivatelyoffered Medigap insurance plans, but eligibility for these plans can vary by state depending on the patient's age.\nTheJack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Actwould allow anyone nationwide with ESRD to purchase Medigap supplemental plans that cover kidney treatments by removing theexistingage requirement.\nJohn Jack Reynolds from Carlisle, Iowa was only 4 years old when we sustained an injury resulting in lifelong kidney failure without the ability to receive a transplant. He depended on four-hour dialysis treatments three days a week for the rest of his life.\nReynolds passed away in May 2020 from kidney failure at the age of 64.\nIn between spending over 45 years on dialysis, which he was able to access thanks to Iowa's expansion of Medigap for those under 65, Reynolds spent time in Washington advocated for a similar expansion nationwide the same expansion that Axne's bill would accomplish when passed.\nBefore he passed away, Reynolds met with Rep. Axne in Washington to share hisstory. Hiscontinued advocacy until his passing inspired Rep. Axne to name the legislation in honorofhis tireless advocacy for kidney disease issues both at the federal and state level.\nJacknever stopped advocating for people like himself with kidney failure and illness. He would travel from Iowa to DC twice a year, every year, to make life better for anyone who has a kidneydisease,and I had the pleasure of meeting him on his last trip to DC before he passed away,said Rep. Axne.Jack's biggest goal was to expand Medigap  something he directly benefited from when it was done here in Iowa. I am proud to push for this key expansion of affordable health care coverage in his honor and in his name with the introduction of Jack Reynolds Memorial Medigap Expansion Act.'\nThe bill has the support of Dialysis Patients Citizenand the American Kidney Fund.\nWe applaud Congresswoman Axne for introducing the Jack Reynolds Medigap Expansion Act, which would greatly improve the lives of thousands of Americans suffering with kidney disease, said Dialysis Patients Citizen Board President Andrew Conkling.By changing the current law to ensure that all ESRD patients under the age of 65 have access to supplemental insurance plans, this legislation would make high-quality, lifesaving care more affordable and accessible for all kidney patients, regardless of what state they live in. Congresswoman Axne's bill is a fitting tribute to the late Jack Reynolds, a lifelong Iowan who was a founding Board member and the longest serving president of Dialysis Patient Citizens. Jack was on dialysis for more than 45 years, and he often credited his longevity to the financial security he felt from having Medigap coverage so he could focus on the things he needed to do to stay healthy. Jack effectively empowered kidney patients through advocacy and education, and as immediate Past President, Jack made this issue a priority for DPC.\"\nWe thank Congresswoman Axne for introducing legislation that would give ESRD patients under 65 the same access to Medigap coverage as patients over 65, said LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. Without Medicare supplemental coverage, the high out-of-pocket costs of this devastating disease can bankrupt patients and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-honors-iowa-advocate-new-legislation-expand-eligibility-kidney-disease"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8706334047019482, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}