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Seven-time NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning joined Kidney Care Partners (KCP) to call attention to the need for increased education of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to encourage lawmakers to support key health care reforms that will improve patient access and choice in receiving quality kidney care.

Mourning, a member of the 2006 NBA champions Miami Heat team, received a kidney transplant in 2003 after being diagnosed with Focal Glomerulosclerosis, a degenerative kidney disease, in 2000. Mourning returned to the NBA following his transplant and has since been a leading advocate for kidney patients nationwide. Through his kidney and organ transplantation foundation, Zo's Fund for Life, Mourning has become more focused on programs that can help those suffering from CKD and kidney failure and has partnered with KCP on several advocacy efforts on behalf of kidney patients.

One such policy proposal that would have a positive impact on patients with kidney failure on dialysis, and those with kidney transplants, includes an extension of the Medicare Secondary Payer Provision (MSP) -- also referred to as Patient Coverage Extension - and expanded coverage of immunosuppressant drugs for transplant patients, the latter which could be paid for by the taxpayer savings achieved by extending MSP.

Currently, Medicare pays for dialysis care for a significant proportion of patients with kidney failure; however, as currently structured, Medicare's ESRD benefit forces patients off of their private insurance and onto Medicare after 30 months of dialysis. This discriminatory policy, which affects no other category of Medicare beneficiaries, is imposed regardless of patient preferences and even if private insurance plans offer more comprehensive coverage than Medicare. A 12-month extension of MSP from the current 30 months to 42 months would provide $1.2 billion in savings to the federal government over ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office - savings that could pay for expanded immunosuppressant drug coverage. Current Medicare policy limits coverage to life-saving immunosuppressant drugs at 36 months, restricting access to needed medications that can result in organ rejection if not taken appropriately. Extending immunosuppressive coverage beyond the 36-month limit would improve transplant outcomes.

"Congress should take advantage of legislation now that is good for patients and good for taxpayers -- MSP would provide greater patient choice and save the Medicare program money -- money which in turn could be used to fund life-saving transplant medication - what's not to like about this legislation?" asked Mourning.

Each year, more than 100,000 Americans are diagnosed with ESRD and require dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to survive. Today, approximately 527,000 patients in the United States are living with kidney failure, and a disproportionate number of these patients are minorities. African American, Hispanic and Asian patients make up more than half the ESRD patient population.

KCP and Mourning are calling on Congress to better serve our nation's dialysis patients by extending the MSP provision by one year, enabling them to remain on their families' group health plan instead of being forced onto Medicare. The benefits are manifold, according to KCP, allowing patients' continuity of care as well as access to care services provided under private plans not afforded by Medicare. Kent Thiry, Chairman of KCP, and members of the kidney community anticipate that this change could encourage health plans to adopt protocols that more aggressively manage the health and disease prevention of plan members.

"Dialysis patients should have the same choices provided to other Medicare patients. They should be able to keep their private insurance as primary payer if they choose," said Thiry. "Because kidney disease and kidney failure are on the rise in communities all across the country, it is critically important that we make a collective effort to ensure that all patients have access to the quality kidney care they need and deserve."

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GLOMERULAR DISEASE?

Some people with FSGS develop swelling (edema) of the eyelids in the morning and edema of the legs and body late in the day due to retention of fluid and this is what leads them to seek medical attention. Some notice foamy or bubbly urine when they urinate (due to the protein in the urine). Because symptoms may develop gradually, the disorder may first be discovered when there is an abnormal urine test (with protein and blood) or blood test (abnormal kidney function) done for a routine physical exam or on exam for an unrelated disorder. Many patients will have high blood pressure at the time of diagnosis. The signs and symptoms of glomerular disease include:

• proteinuria: large amounts of protein in the urine
• hematuria: blood in the urine
• reduced glomerular filtration rate: inefficient filtering of wastes from the blood
• hypoproteinemia: low blood protein
• edema: swelling in parts of the body

One or more of these symptoms can be the first sign of kidney disease. But how would you know, for example, whether you have proteinuria? Before seeing a doctor, you may not. But some of these symptoms have signs, or visible manifestations:

• Proteinuria may cause foamy urine.
• Blood may cause the urine to be pink or cola-colored.
• Edema may be obvious in hands and ankles, especially at the end of the day, or around the eyes when awakening in the morning, for example.

To learn more about Alonzo Mourning's charities, visit zosfundforlife.org

 

Sources: Kidney Care Partners  and Zo Fund for Life

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