Renal Physicians Association's (RPA) Annual Capitol Hill Day

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On May 30^th, nephrologists and kidney patients from across the country will convene in Washington to participate in the Renal Physicians Association's (RPA) annual Capitol Hill Day.

Coordinated in collaboration with the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), RPA's Capitol Hill day offers kidney patients and nephrologists the opportunity to advocate on issues impacting the delivery of effective and appropriate kidney disease care. The Hill Day participants will participate in nearly 100 meetings with their elected representatives and will advocate for the following issues:

• Provide Medicare coverage for dialysis to non-end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in outpatient ESRD facilities;
• Expand Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs;
• Provide equitable reimbursement for physician services in Medicare;
• Provide federal funding for quality measure development in the Medicare program. 

An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, including 400,000 individuals who are undergoing treatment for ESRD, or kidney failure.  Most commonly caused by diabetes, high blood pressure or old-age, kidney failure is expected to claim more than 2 million lives by 2030.  Without dialysis or a kidney transplant, patients suffering from kidney failure will not survive.  Since transplant organs are in short supply, most patients must undergo dialysis treatment, a process that substitutes for healthy kidneys by mechanically filtering body wastes and excess fluids from the bloodstream, three to four times per week.

The Renal Physicians Association (RPA) is the professional organization of nephrologists whose goal is to ensure quality care under the highest standards of medical practice for patients with kidney disease and related disorders. RPA is celebrating 40 years as the advocate for excellence in nephrology practice. For more information about RPA's advocacy agenda, Political Action Committee, and Capitol Hill activities contact RPA's Director of Public Policy Robert Blaser at [email protected] or visit www.renalmd.org.

SOURCE Renal Physicians Association