{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-blackburn-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-kidney-care-access", "Booker, Blackburn Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Kidney Care Access", "2025-09-08", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act that would strengthen Medicare\u2019s kidney care benefits by ensuring fair reimbursement for quality care and improving patient access to innovative treatments, devices, and technologies:\n\n\u201cOver 50 years ago, Congress made a promise to Americans suffering from kidney failure that they would receive the care they need through the Medicare program,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cUnfortunately, too many individuals still struggle to access quality care or receive the treatment they need when faced with a kidney disease diagnosis. The Kidney Care Access Protection Act will ensure Medicare reimbursements for kidney care are accurate, and that following a kidney disease diagnosis, patients have access to comprehensive, high-quality care every step of the way.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe millions of Americans living with kidney disease deserve access to the highest-quality care available,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cOur bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act would ensure patients can access innovative treatments while modernizing Medicare\u2019s payment system so that facilities can keep their doors open.\u201d\n\nThe Kidney Care Access Protection Act would:\n\nEstablish a long-term, sustainable Medicare payment pathway for innovative drugs, devices, and technologies.\n\nImplement a forecast error adjustment policy that accurately accounts for inflationary costs to help keep healthcare facilities financially viable.\n\nBackground:\n\nSince 1972, Medicare has provided coverage for individuals living with kidney failure, regardless of age.\n\nOutdated payment policies haven\u2019t kept up with rising costs and have limited access to breakthrough technologies.\n\nDialysis providers, particularly in rural areas, face financial strain as reimbursement levels have not kept pace with inflation.\n\nThe Kidney Care Access Protection Act is endorsed by Kidney Care Partners, the American Kidney Fund, Dialysis Patient Citizens, and the Renal Support Network (RSN):\n\n\u201cKidney disease has lagged behind other disease states in terms of access to innovative new therapies. Despite being one of the fastest-growing non-communicative diseases that impacts more than 35 million Americans, the number of new innovations ranks amongst the lowest for patients with kidney disease, in large part due to nuances of the payment system. The challenges that the kidney care community faces today require bold solutions. We thank lawmakers for introducing this bill to move us in the right direction as the first step to pursuing long-term reform that further benefits patients,\u201d said Mahesh Krishnan, MD, MPH, MBA, Chair of Kidney Care Partners.\n\n\u201cAs the voice of the nation\u2019s kidney care community, Kidney Care Partners looks forward to working alongside policymakers to champion this legislation,\u201d said LaVarne A. Burton, Chair-Elect of Kidney Care Partners and President & CEO of the American Kidney Fund.\n\n\u201cWe thank Senators Blackburn and Booker for introducing the Kidney Care Access Protection Act \u2013 a bipartisan solution that helps address the structural payment issues that have limited patients\u2019 access to care and innovations for years,\u201d said Hrant Jamgochian, CEO of Dialysis Patient Citizens.\n\n\u201cPeople with kidney failure should have access to innovative treatments by funds following the patients, and not a one size fits all model that discourages innovation and underfunds patient & physician choice. The Kidney Care Access Protection Act is a step forward,\u201d said Lori Hartwell, the Founder and President of the Renal Support Network (RSN).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"]], "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://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-blackburn-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-kidney-care-access"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.0274169985204935, "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"}