PATIENT Act Passes Out of Committee

The Kidney Patient Access to Technologically Innovative and Essential Nephrological Treatments (PATIENT) Act passed 41-1 in the House Ways and Means Committee. The goal of the act, introduced by US Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Carol Miller (R-WV), is to provide access to critical care and affordable oral medicines for chronic kidney disease patients.

Oral-only drugs are poised to move into the Medicare Part B End-Stage Renal Disease prospective payment system in 2025. This move will restrict access to medications and increase dialysis treatment costs for patients with kidney disease. The Kidney PATIENT Act will delay this action until 2027 or until new therapies come to market to ensure patients are able to access affordable medications.

“It is critically important that we protect access to oral-only therapies for patients with end-stage renal disease,” said Rep. Sewell. “I am absolutely thrilled that the Ways and Means Committee has passed our Kidney PATIENT Act with strong bipartisan support.”

“I was thrilled to see the Kidney PATIENT Act pass nearly unanimously out of the Ways and Means Committee and be one step closer to becoming law,” said Rep. Miller. “I look forward to the bill continuing to move forward in the House of Representatives.”