Medicare Form Changes Threaten Kidney Care Equity

National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is dedicated to ensuring every person with kidney disease has equal access to quality and affordable kidney care. Despite advances in treatment, significant disparities remain in who develops chronic kidney disease (CKD), who receives care, and who benefits from kidney transplantation or home dialysis.

• Kidney Disease Disparities in the U.S.
• Why Data Matters
• What NKF is Doing
• How You Can Make a Difference

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• 1 in 3 U.S. adults is at risk for CKD.
• Black Americans are about 4 times more likely to develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) than White Americans.
• Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native populations are 2 times more likely to develop ESKD.
• Asian Americans are 1.4 times more likely to develop ESKD.

The increased risk is not due to race. It is the social determinants of health, like income and education, that raise the risk of kidney disease.

Disparities extend to kidney disease treatment access as well. 

The U.S. Renal Data System Annual Data Report shows:

• White and Asian American patients are more likely to receive home dialysis than Black and Hispanic patients.

The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients shows:

• White patients are more likely to receive a kidney transplant from a living donor, while Black and Hispanic patients often face longer wait times for transplantation.

Learn more with NKF’s kidney disease fact sheet.

These disparities are documented through Medicare’s Form 2728, the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Medical Evidence Report. This form provides detailed information on patient demographics and treatment.

Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) removed questions about race and ethnicity from Form 2728. 

NKF, along with the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA), urged CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to restore this critical data to ensure equitable kidney care.

Read NKF’s comments to CMS.

NKF is actively monitoring the impact of these changes. We are gathering feedback from NKF’s network of kidney care professionals and sharing concerns with our champions in Congress. 

Our goal is clear: every person should have access to high-quality kidney care, regardless of race or background. 

Learn more about NKF’s work.

Your voice can help ensure we have the information we need to make certain that everyone who needs it can benefit from high-quality kidney care. 

Sign up today to receive advocacy alerts and make sure lawmakers hear from people who know kidney disease firsthand. 

Together, we can make kidney care accessible to all.