Kidney healthcare access bill pushed by Terri Sewell passes House committee

A bill regarding kidney healthcare access introduced by Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Carol Miller (R-WV) has passed the House Ways and Means Committee. 

Titled the Bipartisan Kidney Patient Access to Technologically Innovative and Essential Nephrological Treatments (PATIENT) Act, the bill passed with a 41-1 vote. 

The legislation will reportedly keep healthcare for chronic kidney illnesses affordable. 

“It is critically important that we protect access to oral-only therapies for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease,” said Sewell in a press release. “I am absolutely thrilled that the Ways and Means Committee has passed our Kidney PATIENT Act with strong bipartisan support. I thank Congresswoman Miller for her partnership and look forward to continuing to push this bill across the finish line.”

According to the press release the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is anticipated to move oral-only drugs into the Medicare Part B End-Stage Renal Disease (ERSD) prospective payment system in 2025. 

This will end up restricting access to medications and increase dialysis treatment costs, the press release said. The bill aims to delay the move until 2027 or "until new therapies come to the market" for patients. 

“I was thrilled to see the Kidney PATIENT Act pass nearly unanimously out of the Ways and Means Committee and be one step closer to becoming law,” said Miller. “This bill will provide patients with access to oral-only kidney disease therapies through their Medicare Part D benefit until 2027."

"Bipartisan support of the Kidney PATIENT Act from the Ways and Means Committee shows how important it is to take care of ESRD patients across the country. I look forward to the bill continuing to move forward in the House of Representatives.”