Congressional Kidney Caucus, Kidney Groups Want Kidney Disease Screening Recommendations

The Congressional Kidney Caucus and four kidney patient and professional organizations called on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to develop federal screening recommendations for chronic kidney disease (CKD). They submitted the request in a letter cosigned by 44 members of Congress.

The four organizations signing on to the letter are the American Society of Nephrology, American Association of Kidney Patients, American Kidney Fund (AKF), and National Kidney Foundation (NKF). In December, those groups participated in a bipartisan briefing in collaboration with the Congressional Kidney Caucus on creating equitable kidney care and removing barriers to screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

There are currently no federal screening guidelines in place even though kidney disease affects 37 million Americans. As many as 90% of people who have CKD are unaware of it, according to AKF president LaVarne Burton.

“Early identification of kidney disease could slow the progression to kidney failure and the need for dialysis,” said Sylvia Rosas, MD, MSCE, president of NKF.

The letter pointed to a crucial need to ensure that the methodical approach adopted by USPSTF does not inadvertently restrict access to essential screening for vulnerable populations and worsen disparities in timely kidney care. USPSTF’s framework should recognize diseases like diabetes and hypertension as independent risk factors of CKD, allowing for a more inclusive and effective screening strategy, the letter stated.