SENATOR COLLINS TO URGE EARLY COUNSELING TO KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS

Washington, DC — Senator Susan Collins is cosponsoring legislation with Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) to make counseling available to patients diagnosed with chronic kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The Kidney Disease Education Benefits Act (S. 717) will allow Medicare to cover counseling provided to patients prior to dialysis treatments. By allowing Medicare to cover these treatments prior to dialysis, patients will have the opportunity to understand and take advantage of all therapies available to treat ESRD.

"In order to improve the quality of life for people suffering from ESRD, we need to do everything in our power to see that they have access to information regarding treatment options," Senator Collins said. "The legislation I have introduced with Senator Lincoln ensures that Medicare patients will now receive this information prior to dialysis treatments so they might take steps to prevent complications prior to kidney failure, receive alternative care, and learn how to best live with this tragic disease."

Each year, some 80,000 people are diagnosed with chronic kidney failure or end-stage renal disease. This issue is of particular concern to Senator Collins who is the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, as diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.

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