AAKP Key Correspondence

Public Comments & Correspondence

This section includes public comments & correspondence made by the American Association of Kidney Patients staff or board members individually or in conjunction with other organizations.

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2024

Re: Extending Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities

November 21, 2024 The Honorable Charles SchumerMajority Leader of the SenateHart Senate Office Building, 322Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Mike JohnsonSpeaker of the HouseCannon House Office Building, 418Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Mitch McConnellMinority Leader of the SenateRussell Senate Office Building, 317Washington, DC 20515Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Hakeem JeffriesHouse Minority LeaderRayburn House Office Building, … Continue reading Read More

ODRIA Stakeholder Endorsement Letter

October 31, 2024 The Honorable Rob WittmanU.S. House of Representatives2055 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 The Honorable Jennifer McClellanU.S. House of Representatives2417 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 The Honorable Mariannette Miller-MeeksU.S. House of Representatives1034 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 The Honorable Jim CostaU.S. House of Representatives2081 Rayburn House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 … Continue reading Read More

Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R. 2706/S. 1183)

Supporting Organizations The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) works collaboratively with a group of diverse stakeholders representing the disability and medical community to advocate for the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act. The following organizations have formally supported the bill: For more information, please contact Anna Fedewa, National Down Syndrome Society Manager of Federal … Continue reading Read More

Organ Transportation FAA Sign-On Letter January 2024

Dear Chair Cantwell, Ranking Member Cruz, Chair Graves, and Ranking Member Larsen: As stakeholders in the organ donation and transplant community, we appreciate your leadership in including an organ transportation provision in the House and Senate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation to ensure lifesaving donor organs are transported safely, timely, and efficiently through our … Continue reading Read More

Older Correspondence

2023

May 28, 2023: AAKP Response to ABIM Call for Public Comment

Saving Organs One Flight at a Time Act Stakeholder Sign On Letter

RE: FDA Proposal to Permit Salt Substitutes to Reduce Sodium in Standardized Foods

RE: Support Federal Legislation to Ban Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) in all federal programs

Statement of Policy Principles and Solutions: Living Organ Donation

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY AND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF KIDNEY PATIENTS CALL ON CONGRESS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR KIDNEY INNOVATION AND VETERANS WITH KIDNEY DISEASES

2022

AAKP Signs Onto Letter Regarding Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Coverage and Other Health-Related Coverage

AAKP signs onto letter to ask CMS to preserve access to critically important diagnostics and continued use of ICD-10 NOS codes

Re: Oregon Waiver Renewal Application

AAKP requests Congress to extend telehealth regulatory flexibilities beyond COVID.

2021

132 Organizations Ask for Key Medicare Part D OOP Reforms in Budget Reconciliation Package

RE: Medicare Program; End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Payment for Renal Dialysis Services Furnished to Individuals With Acute Kidney Injury, End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program, and End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model; CMS-1749-P

AAKP PATIENT IMPACT STATEMENT: FULL FDA APPROVAL OF PFIZER/BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE

AAKP Letter Re: Calcimimetics Drugs 8.12.21

NEWS! CDC EMBRACES FDA AUTHORIZATION OF 3RD VACCINE DOSE FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

Letter to Rep. DelBene re Support of Vascular Graft Research 4.13.21

Letter to Senator Murray re Support of Vascular Graft Research

QALY Coalition Letter 4.21.21

STATEMENT ON COMPREHENSIVE LIVING ORGAN DONOR PROTECTIONS

2020

December 16, 2020: AAKP & AST joint letter to FDA on importance of supporting rational clinical trial design and support for kidney transplant desensitization

AAKP, ASTS, AST letter to Congress expressing concerns about BETTER Kidney Care Act – November 2020

November 13, 2020 - Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) letter commenting on PCORI’s Proposed Principles for the Consideration of the Full Range of Outcomes Data

Energy and Commerce Letter

AST, ASTS & AAKP Request Swift Passage of S. 3353, the Comprehensive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act, During the 116th Congress

Proposed LCD for Percutaneous AV Fistula for Hemodialysis (DL38573)

Of Presidents, Policies, and Patients

Thoughts on Juneteenth, From AAKP President Richard Knight

Protecting Access to Pain Relief (PAPR) Coalition, Request for Comment entitled “Management of Acute and Chronic Pain”

Doctors Flummoxed By Long-Term Organ Damage In COVID-19 Survivors

Patient Organizations Engage on All Levels of COVID-19 Advocacy and Education

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities

Advocate Letter Supporting Nondiscrimination

March 13, 2020 - Joint letter for $3 billion request for NIH over FY 2020, including increase for NIDDK

February 14, 2020 – Dental Access Letter to HHS Secretary Azar

2019

Message From AAKP President: Winter 2019

2018

April 23, 2018 –Request Funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH)

March 19, 2018 – Friends of NIDDK Request Funding for National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

February 28, 2018 - Dialysis PATIENTS Demonstration Act of 2017 (H.R. 4143)

2017

December 1, 2017 – AAKP expresses concerns about continued access to kidney transplantation with the Dialysis PATIENTS Demonstration Act of 2017 (S. 2065 / H.R. 4143)

October 20, 2017 - H.R. 1133 Letter in Support of the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act of 2017

October 16, 2017 - Protecting Access to Pain Relief (PAPR) Coalition written comments in response to a meeting of the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (IPRCC)

October 16, 2017 - Letter to Acting Sect. Hargan on Nat'l Clinical Care Commission Act

October 7, 2017 - Joint Letter to increase transplant rates

July 18, 2017 - Living Donor Protection Act Coalition Letter

June 28, 2017 - LCD Reconsideration Number AB0016, Immune Globulin Intraveneous (IVIg)

June 12, 2017 - Dialysis Patients Demonstration Act of 2016 (H.R. 5942) Capitated Arrangements Threaten ESRD Patients’ Access to Transplant

April 25, 2017 – National Clinical Care Commission Act’s proactive and innovative approaches to diabetes and its disease complications

March 20, 2017 – Alliance for Home Dialysis congratulates Seema Verma as CMS Administrator

February 23, 2017 - Support George Washington University Hospital Transplant Institute and their application under the Certificate of Public Need (COPN)

2016

September 19, 2016 - Dialysis Patients Demonstration Act of 2016 (H.R. 5942) – Capitated Arrangements Threaten ESRD Patients’ Access to Transplant

AAKP & Renal Physicians Association Ask Congress to Intervene in ESA Policy Decisions

The HIV Organ Policy Act , an AAKP Public Policy Priority, Is Now Law

AAKP & Renal Physicians Association Ask Congress to Intervene in ESA Policy Decisions

The HIV Organ Policy Act , an AAKP Public Policy Priority, Is Now Law

21st Century Cures Roundtable

The New Five Star Dialysis Rating System

Support for Lifetime Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Saves Lives and Dollars

Endorsement of legislation to address donation of organs from HIV-infected donors to benefit HIV-infected recipients

Medicare Program; End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Quality Incentive Program, and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies

Saving Protected Class of Immunosuppressant Drugs

Request for expedited review of importation of additional peritoneal dialysis solution

Medicare Coverage article regarding hemodialysis frequency

Revised Rule for Payment Policy under the Physician Fee Schedule for 2015

Prospective to Improve ESCO Program

Medicare Eligibility

Kidney Health Advocates Make History on Capitol Hill

2014

AAKP Supports Increase Funding for Organ donation & Transplantation Programs

2013

AAKP Asks CMS to Reconsider Proposed Cuts in Medicare Dialysis Funding

AAKP Joins Physician and Patient Groups to Offer Health Care Solutions on Capitol Hill

AAKP Co-Sponsors U.S. Congressional Kidney Caucus Event

2012

Kidney Care Delivery Model

2011

AAKP Testifies Before MEDCAC Panel on ESA Use in Kidney Transplant

AAKP Applauds Latest GAO Report on Oral Drugs and ESRD Bundle

2008

Stephanie Tubbs-Jones Congressional Gift of Life Medal Act

AAKP Supports Bill to Clarify Law Regarding Incentives for Organ Donations

AAKP Urges Senator Kerry to Support Home Hemodialysis Pilot Program

AAKP Seeks Senate Support of Drug Coverage for Transplant Recipients