02/15/08 - National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky Supports Dialysis Patient’s Bill of Rights

Positive support for the Dialysis Patient's Bill of Rights keeps coming in. Check out the letter below from the National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky.

February 15, 2008
The Honorable Tom Buford
Chairman, Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
Capitol Annex
Frankfort, KY 40601

Dear Chairman Buford:

On behalf of the National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky and the over 4000 dialysis patients in the state of Kentucky, we write to express our support for SB59/HB 433, the Kentucky Dialysis Patient's "Bill of Rights".

There are 26 million Americans (an increase of30% since 2002) living with chronic kidney disease and 20 million more at risk. Most don't even know they have it until the later stages of disease when delaying of dialysis treatment or transplantation is no longer an option. One in ten Kentuckians has chronic kidney disease, many of whom will require dialysis, a life sustaining, chronic treatment.

The Natonal Kidney Foundation has implemented the People Like Us and Hope Street Empowerment programs to educate dialysis patients about their rights as patients and access to quality healthcare. The programs teach the importance of knowledge, choice and control in regard to their healthcare and treatments for kidney failure. Kidney disease has as nasty way of "turning your life upside down" and losses are very real with dialysis patients-loss of health, job and income, role in family, time(dialysis treatments are usually 3 days a week for 4 hours each treatment), and loss of control over treatment decisions. Patients should have the right to choose their treatment center. With all the other stressors kidney disease can present, choice in dialysis center can make a big difference in how a patient copes with the diagnosis of kidney disease.

In Kentucky, insurance companies are forcing many patients to leave their current dialysis treatment center because of a unilateral decision to cut their costs by reducing payments for out-of-network care which creates an undue burden on patients who are already vulnerable and struggling to cope with a chronic illness requiring life sustaining treatment. Or worse yet, collecting higher premiums from patients and then taking away their choice. They deserve the right to choose. They deserve the right to timely notification of changes to their coverage. They deserve access to quality care that they choose.

As a result, we are writing in strong support of SB59/HB433, the Kentucky Dialysis Patient's "Bill of Rights." This vital measure will protect patient access to life saving care by prohibiting unilateral rate setting by private insurers for out -of- network dialysis services and safeguard the right of dialysis patients to be informed by ensuring notification of benefit changes that may affect their coverage. SB59/HB 433 would prohibit the after the fact policy changes and ensure that patients are not forced to travel unreasonable distances for in-network dialysis services.

Please help ensure Kentucky's dialysis patients have the right to choose where they receive their care. Please support SB59/HB433, the Kentucky Dialysis Patient's "Bill of Rights."

Sincerely,

Lisa Allgood

Executive Director
National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky

The National Kidney Foundation, a major voluntary health organization, seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well being of individuals and
families affected by these diseases and increase the availability of organs for transplantation. Through its 47 affiliates nationwide, the foundation conducts programs in research, professional education, patient and community services, public education and organ donation.

Click here to download the letter from the National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky.