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Kicking Off National Kidney Month, South Carolina Kidney Patients Prepare to Descend on the State Capitol in Support of Improved Access to Care

In addition to educating legislators about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its impact in South Carolina, the patient advocates will ask their lawmakers to support Medigap legislation - S. 1128, sponsored by Senators Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) and Phillip Shoopman (R-Greenville), and H. 4552, sponsored by Representatives Joan Brady (R-Richland), Bill Sandifer (R-Seneca) and Kristopher Crawford (R-Florence) - to help approximately 500 South Carolinians suffering from kidney failure who are having difficulty accessing needed health insurance coverage.

"National Kidney Month is a time for educating the public, our lawmakers and others about the impact of kidney disease - which affects more than half a million South Carolinians and is on the rise - and to advocate for policies that can greatly improve patients' quality of life," said Beth Irick, Division President, National Kidney Foundation Serving the Carolinas. "We support expanded access to Medigap to help ensure all kidney patients are able to get the care they need without cost being a barrier, and we hope to count on our lawmakers' support of important Medigap legislation this year."

NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning, who is also a kidney transplant recipient and kidney care advocate, will visit with South Carolina legislators later this month in order to urge the passage of this legislation. In 2009, Mourning advocated for the successful passage of similar legislation in Florida, which has made it possible for approximately 500 Florida kidney failure patients to purchase Medigap insurance to cover their co-pays and deductibles. Nationwide, 29 states have already enacted Medigap legislation that is broadly supported by patients, family members, care advocates and taxpayers.

"Rates of kidney disease and kidney failure continue to increase in South Carolina and nationally, and it is critical to make sure these patients are able to get the life-saving and life-enhancing care they require," said Chad Lennox, Executive Director of Dialysis Patient Citizens, a national, non-profit organization representing approximately 450 patients in South Carolina. "Passing Medigap legislation will improve patients' access to care as well as help reduce the burden to the state Medicaid program, delivering significant benefits to patients as well as taxpayers."

While Medicare covers most medical costs, it requires patients to pay deductibles and co-pays. Under current federal law, only Medicare beneficiaries over the age of 65 are able to purchase Medigap insurance as secondary coverage. Patients under the age of 65 do not have this same option. Most patients have some type of secondary insurance to help with these costs; however, approximately 500 South Carolinians under age 65 with ESRD do not have access to this coverage intended to help them and patients deemed disabled access essential medical treatments, including kidney transplants, without cost being a barrier to care. In addition, Medigap coverage protects many patients from having to "spend down" their income to become eligible for state Medicaid insurance. If Medigap legislation is enacted, fewer people will be forced to enter South Carolina's Medicaid program, resulting in Medicaid savings of up to $4.6 million over the next five years.

Additional facts about CKD and ESRD from the NKF and DPC include:

• Approximately 546,000 South Carolinians - 1 in 8 residents - CKD.
• Nationally, CKD affects more than 27 million Americans - and millions more are at increased risk.
• South Carolina is second in the nation of prevalence of diabetes, and a leader in the prevalence of high blood pressure, the leading causes of kidney disease.
• More than 7,500 South Carolina residents - 527,000 Americans nationwide - suffer from end stage renal disease (ESRD) and rely on dialysis services to function for their failed kidneys.
• South Carolina is, per capita, third in the nation with the number of patients on dialysis.
• Approximately 500 ESRD patients in South Carolina lack secondary insurance coverage to help pay for medical expenses not covered by Medicare.
• More than 800 South Carolinians are waiting for a transplant.
• By allowing ESRD and disabled patients under age 65 to access Medigap insurance, the South Carolina Medicaid program is estimated to save $4.5 million over five years.

Dialysis Patient Citizens
Rebecca Reid, 410-212-3843