Young Introduces Bill to Improve Treatment for Dialysis Patients

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced the Bringing Enhanced Treatments and Therapies to ESRD Recipients (BETTER) Kidney Care Act to provide a new care option for dialysis patients to receive high-quality, integrated, and coordinated care.

Roughly 37 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and more than 726,000 have end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Additionally, approximately 20 percent of traditional Medicare dollars — $114 billion a year — are spent on Americans with kidney disease. Beneficiaries with kidney disease often have complex needs and multiple chronic diseases, and nearly half are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. This population stands to benefit the most from the support offered by integrated care. 

“Helping Hoosiers with end-stage renal disease receive improved care will result in better health outcomes and will help save lives,” said Senator Young. “The BETTER Kidney Care Act is a smart approach to enhancing patients’ quality of life while also saving taxpayer dollars.”

The BETTER Kidney Care Act would create a Medicare Integrated Care Demonstration to deliver high-quality, integrated, and coordinated care to ESRD beneficiaries receiving dialysis and those that transition to transplant or hospice care. This practical approach to care delivery would significantly improve health outcomes, reduce hospitalizations and readmissions, increase quality of life for ESRD patients, and save taxpayer dollars.

In addition to Senator Young, the bill was cosponsored by Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.). The bill was also introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Jason Smith (R-Mo.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio).

Click here to view a one-pager on the bill.

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