Senators Cassidy (R-LA) and Durbin (D-IL) and Congressmen Kind (D-WI) and Burgess (R-TX) have introduced the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act (S. 3353/H.R. 5534)! This landmark legislation will extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for the life of a kidney transplant, beyond the 36-month post-transplant cut-off currently in place covering these lifesaving medications.
When patients cannot afford their medications, they often risk their transplant by skipping doses, splitting their pills, or are forced to make difficult choices between paying for basic necessities or for medicine they need to prevent losing their transplant. Many patients, like Bobbie’s son, struggle with the daily challenge of affording their lifesaving medications. Others don’t qualify for a transplant because they don’t have the financial resources to cover post-transplant care, including immunosuppressive drugs. This will save lives and save taxpayers between $73 million and $300 million over 10 years according to the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS.
No one should be denied a lifesaving transplant because they can’t afford it.
Help us ensure that Congress gives all the kidney patients in our lives this amazing benefit! We need you and your friends to write your Members of Congress to pressure them to cosponsor this legislation so that we can begin to help those facing these issues NOW. Each letter you send telling your story moves us one step closer to passing the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act.
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