The Wellness & Education Kidney Advocacy Network (weKAN) consists of “patient activists” from across the country whose common goal is to ensure that people with CKD receive quality care.  Click on the legislation below  to learn how you can make a difference.    

Message from Kidney Care Partners 6-30-08

Congress left Washington for the 4th of July recess in a sour partisan mood with the Medicare fix and other key legislative agenda items caught in partisan gridlock. Democrats feel that they are within striking distance of passage of their Medicare proposal in the Senate and are not inclined to negotiate a new package with the White House and Senate Republicans. Majority Leader Reid anticipates bringing up again a motion to proceed the week they are back from the 4th of July recess. Senator Reid is hoping that aggressive lobbying, particularly by the AMA and medical specialties along with the AARP, will turn the tide and send the legislation on to the President. If Republicans are successful in continuing to block a vote on the Medicare bill, Congress will face the very tough task of negotiating a new Medicare agreement in the few short weeks remaining before the August recess. Particularly challenging is the complexity of negotiations which would have to include Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Rangel, Chairman Dingell, Chairman Baucus, Ranking Member Grassley, the Senate Majority and Minority Leader, and the White House. We believe that the longer (delete: that) these issues remain unresolved, the greater chance the result is gridlock or a small package in which including ESRD will be a challenge.

We strongly urge members of the KCP to engage in grassroots lobbying during this crucial recess week. We think this can be done in a manner that encourages action but preserves the option for compromise if needed as the process proceeds. The key grassroots lobbying messages are as follows:

-The Senate must pass kidney care reforms in July. Time is running out.

-Passing a Medicare bill with kidney care provisions is very important. This important legislation would establish vital education and prevention programs to help slow the progression of kidney disease and kidney failure and provide an inflationary update to account for critical staffing services.

-You have an opportunity to improve kidney care for patients nationwide, including in our most vulnerable minority and rural communities.

-I strongly urge you to vote for passage of Medicare improvements for kidney care upon return to Washington, D.C. in July.

We encourage KCP member organizations to reach out to Congressional offices both in the district and in Washington with these messages. Clearly, at this time, the focus is in getting these messages into Senate offices.