Tampa, Fla., October 22, 2007 - Today the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) teamed up with Services Employees International Union (SEIU) and Aetna, to announce opposition to the proposed passage of the extension of the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) period for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients to 42 months. AAKP is the largest non-profit kidney organization in the nation, run by patients, dedicated to the needs and well-fair of all kidney patients and their families.

During a press conference today in Washington, DC, and in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, AAKP expressed a number of concerns regarding the extension of the MSP period, including the lowering of quality guidelines set forth by CMS, discrimination of patients based on pre-conditions that could lead to kidney disease, and insurance companies limiting coverage for dialysis patients or eliminating availability of treatment options. 

“ESRD patients have a life expectancy of 60 months. So delaying Medicare for 42 months would mean most patients would never even live to see the benefits of Medicare as primary payer,” stated Roberta Wager, RN, MSN, AAKP President. “That’s a pretty cynical policy in our view.”

Extending MSP to 42 months would actually increase the nation’s healthcare cost because payers other than Medicare now pay two to three times as much for dialysis services as Medicare does. This would mean higher premiums and higher co-pays with no increase in health services. Patients, themselves, would end up having to pay more out of pocket expenses. 

AAKP continues to lend its support behind other proposals such as bundling payments for Medicare reimbursement of kidney services. This would reduce Medicare costs and protect kidney patients.

The ESRD program was developed with patient interest in the forefront, balancing cost with life saving treatment. The extension of MSP to 42 months is bad for patients and a step backwards for all kidney patients.

To read AAKP’s letter to the Senate Finance Committee, click here. You can also call the AAKP National Office at (800) 749-AAKP for further comment. 
                                                                                  

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AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 35 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.