National Kidney Foundation calls for reform following House Ways and Means hearing on kidney health.
New York, NY (March 23, 2026) — Kidney disease affects more than 37 million Americans, and nearly 90 percent of people with the disease do not know they have it, according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). The condition is not only a major public health challenge but also a significant and growing driver of U.S. healthcare costs. Following last week’s House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing, “Improving Kidney Health Through Better Prevention and Innovative Treatment,” NKF is urging policymakers to accelerate reforms that prioritize prevention, early diagnosis, and access to cost-effective treatment options.
“Kidney disease is one of the most underdiagnosed and costly chronic conditions in the United States, and too many patients are identified only after it has progressed to kidney failure — when care becomes most expensive and outcomes are poorest,” said Jesse Roach, M.D., SVP for Government Relations at NKF. “We cannot treat our way out of this problem. We must detect kidney disease earlier, prevent progression whenever possible, and ensure patients have access to treatments that improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs.”
NKF commends the Subcommittee for elevating solutions that focus on prevention, early detection, and patient-centered care. Transforming kidney care in the United States will require better alignment across payment policy, care delivery systems, and workforce capacity to support earlier intervention and more effective treatment pathways.
Key Priorities to Improve Kidney Health and Reduce Long-Term Costs
- Increase early testing and diagnosis for chronic kidney disease (CKD), prevent costly disease progression
- Expand access to kidney transplantation, the most cost-effective treatment for kidney failure
- Improve access to home dialysis and patient-centered care options that can enhance quality of life and reduce system burden
- Align Medicare payment policies to support prevention, innovation, and value-based care
- Address workforce shortages and systemic barriers that limit timely access to care
Kidney failure care — including dialysis and transplantation — represents a disproportionate share of Medicare spending, underscoring the need for policies that shift the system toward prevention and earlier intervention. Persistent barriers, including outdated reimbursement structures and workforce limitations, continue to delay diagnosis and restrict access to optimal treatment options.
The National Kidney Foundation will continue working with Congress, federal agencies, and stakeholders to advance nonpartisan policies that improve early detection, expand access to transplantation and home dialysis, and accelerate innovation — reducing both the human and economic burden of kidney disease.
Kidney Disease in the United States: Key Facts
In the United States, more than 37 million adults are estimated to have kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD)—and approximately 90 percent don’t know they have it. About 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to have kidney failure. Hispanics experience kidney failure at about double the rate of White people.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.
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Media Contact: Paul McGee
paul.mcgee@kidney.org or 716.523.6874