Statement from Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and a kidney transplant recipient, on yesterday’s introduction of the Kidney Disease Education Expansion Act.
(Washington D.C. - June 30, 2026) - "Medicare only covers kidney disease education once a patient has already reached stage 4 - by then, the damage is often done. This bill corrects that by covering education for anyone at high risk for chronic kidney disease, such as those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or other risk factors, long before kidney failure becomes a crisis. It also adds kidney screening to the wellness visits Americans already receive. It's a simple, common-sense fix: catch the disease early, equip families with the knowledge to act, and keep more Americans healthy and out of the hospital. We're grateful to Representatives DelBene and Joyce for leading this effort, and we urge Congress to act quickly."
About the Kidney Disease Education Expansion Act:
The Kidney Disease Education Expansion Act is legislation introduced by Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) to improve early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD), expand access to kidney disease education, and help more Americans understand their kidney health before the disease progresses.
Currently, Medicare covers kidney disease education only for beneficiaries with stage 4 or stage 5 CKD, after significant kidney damage or kidney failure has already occurred. The Kidney Disease Education Expansion Act would expand eligibility to people living with stage 1, 2, or 3 CKD and those at high risk for kidney disease, including individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure. The legislation would also add kidney screening to Medicare annual wellness visits, helping identify kidney disease earlier when interventions can be most effective.
Additional Resources:
H.R. 9509 – House Link
About Kidney Disease:
In the United States, CKD remains an under-recognized public health burden that impacts 1 in 7 adults, and 90 percent of those affected are unaware of their condition. Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. adults are at risk for CKD, but less than 20% are assessed with guideline-recommended testing, eGFR and uACR. 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 develop kidney failure. Hispanic and Native American people experience kidney failure at approximately 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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For Media Inquiries:
Paul McGee (716) 523-6874 or paul.mcgee@kidney.org