{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-announces-progress-in-push-to-cover-anti-rejection-medication", "Higgins Announces Progress in Push to Cover Anti-Rejection Medication for Kidney Transplant Patients", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Brian Higgins", "H001038", "higgins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced approval of legislation expanding Medicare coverage, for the prescription drugs patients are required to take to reduce the risk of rejection following a kidney transplant.\nIn January, Congressman Higgins joined the Kidney Foundation of Western New York and healthcare providers at the Regional Kidney Care Center of Excellence at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) to advocate for passage of the measure, which is co-sponsored by Higgins.\nThe arbitrary limitation on Medicare's immunosuppressant drug coverage doesn't match the real-life medical need of kidney transplant patients, said Congressman Higgins. This legislation not only makes sense, it will save money and lives.\nMost patients with end-stage kidney disease are eligible for Medicare regardless of their age.Those that undergo a kidney transplant are required to take immunosuppressant drugs for life. However, drug coverage under Medicare for these specific drugs currently ends after just 36 months, causing some patients to ration or refrain from taking medication which increases the chance of organ rejection.\nJeremy Morlock, Director of the Kidney Foundation of Western New York, said, Many people have long and rich lives after receiving a kidney transplant. Missing a single dose of immunosuppressant medication can increase the chance of organ failure. By extending Medicare Part B coverage, we can prevent transplanted organs from being lost and lives from being cut short.\nLanguage that mirrors that in the Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act (HR 5534) was included in legislation (HR 2477) approved by the House of Representatives this week.The Senate will also need to act.\nWe thank Congressman Higgins for working so hard to get this important legislation passed, said Dr. Liise Kayler, Program Director, Regional Transplantation and Kidney Care Center of Excellence at ECMC. This bill guarantees kidney transplant recipients access to medication, which is vital to keeping their new organs healthy.\nMorlock added, During the COVID-19 crisis our foundation has been able to help some transplant recipients unable to afford immunosuppressive drugs, but there are many more patients in our community who struggle to afford these lifesaving medications. The U.S. House of Representatives' passage of this bill is an important step toward protecting the health of patients and honoring the gift of life made by organ donors. We are grateful to Congressman Higgins for his continued commitment to this critical legislation.\nThe CDC reports more than 726,000 people in the United States are currently on dialysis or living with a kidney transplant.", 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://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-announces-progress-in-push-to-cover-anti-rejection-medication"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.567929983139038, "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"}