Marino seeks to break down barriers to kidney disease treatment

People suffering from kidney disease would have more access to treatments and transplants under legislation reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) on Tuesday.

In addition to outlining a path to identify barriers to kidney transplants and better organ donation rates, the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act, H.R. 2644, would help those with kidney disease retrain private insurance and would promote home dialysis treatments.

The bipartisan bill, which Marino introduced with cosponsors U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and John Lewis (D-GA), would also take steps to better understand the progression of kidney disease and kidney failure in minority populations, and to enhance access to treatments in underserved areas.

“I would like to thank my colleagues John Lewis and Peter Roskam for continuing to support our efforts to bring an end to kidney disease and make access to breakthrough treatments easier to obtain for those suffering with this disease,” Marino said. “Kidney disease has touched the lives of millions of Americans, including myself, and this bill is a step in the right direction to better understand the disease and find a cure.”

All the answers to kidney disease won’t come through legislation, Lewis said, but persistent and consistent efforts to remove obstacles the disease creates can one day lead to a cure.

“Kidney disease is a debilitating medical condition that dramatically changes the lives of those who suffer from it,” Lewis said. “Anything that we can do as the people’s representatives to help patients and families living with kidney disorders is our duty and obligation.”