AKF STATEMENT ON RESOLUTION OF COURT CASE CHALLENGING CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 290

The following information was released by the American Kidney Fund (AKF):

The April 7, 2026 ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Doe v. Bonta is a resounding victory for people with kidney failure who cannot afford the cost of healthcare. The court's opinion enshrines the American Kidney Fund's grant assistance work as a First Amendment right, and upholds the tenets of AKF's Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP). Protecting AKF's charitable program ensures people with kidney failure can keep their insurance coverage and receive lifesaving medical care.

This decision eliminates years-long threats to HIPP operations in California, and allows AKF to continue providing assistance to patients nationwide. By protecting HIPP, the court recognizes the important work of our federally approved program that has served millions of patients since 1997.

AKF remains committed to its mission and charitable work, and will continue to support all eligible patients who qualify financially for our assistance across the United States.

Filed under

AKF programs and services

Financial assistance

Policy

About the American Kidney Fund

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nonprofit with the greatest direct impact on people with kidney disease. AKF works on behalf of the 1 in 7 American adults living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs thatsupport people wherever they are in their fight against kidney diseasefrom prevention through post-transplant living. AKF fights for kidney health for all throughprograms that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy. AKF is one of the nation's top-rated nonprofits, investing 96 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and it has received 24 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator as well as the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, formerly known as GuideStar.