Senate Better Care Reconciliation Act is Not Better for Kidney Patients

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Managed Care Weekly Digest -- The National Kidney Foundation opposes the Senate Better Care Reconciliation Act. This bill will significantly reduce access to vital, preventive and life-saving care for people at risk of, or with, chronic kidney disease (see also National Kidney Foundation).

Despite assurances that people with pre-existing conditions could still purchase insurance in the Marketplaces, this bill allows states to eliminate the essential health benefits currently provided under the Affordable Care Act, and permits insurers to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions by not covering vital medications and treatments they need to manage their conditions. For kidney patients, this could include treatments such dialysis or transplantation and medications.

In addition, National Kidney Foundation is concerned about the significant changes and cuts to Medicaid, which could leave many low-income people without access to health insurance and health care services, including preventive care necessary for slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease. Nearly one-third of people with kidney failure are enrolled in Medicaid (most being dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid). As state Medicaid budgets are tightened across the nation, states may look to reduce the populations they cover and eliminate expensive, but critical, benefits like dialysis treatments. Once kidneys fail, dialysis or a kidney transplant are needed just to stay alive.

Keywords for this news article include: Medicaid, Health Policy, Risk and Prevention, National Kidney Foundation.

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