Rep. Young's Legislation to Improve Health Care Coordination for More Americans Passes Ways and Means Committee

Press Release

On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee passed Congressman Todd Young's (R-IN) bipartisan legislation to increase access to an innovative, coordinated care model for Americans suffering from a late stage of chronic kidney disease, referred to as end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

"Patients suffering from end-stage renal disease are vulnerable to a host of accompanying health complications which require extra medical attention and care. Unfortunately, our fragmented health care system lacks the level of coordination that would make treating chronic illness more manageable, especially for senior patients who must receive near-daily dialysis in order to stay alive.

"This legislation expands a more comprehensive health care delivery model that will spare patients time and money. It will reduce the hassle and anxiety that comes from visiting multiple doctors' offices, tracking multiple treatment plans, and balancing prescription regimens.

"With this legislation, we can reduce hospitalizations and readmissions, and decrease overall program costs. Most of all, we have the potential to make a debilitating disease more manageable for hundreds of thousands of dialysis patients and help them lead healthier, more actives lives."--Congressman Todd Young (R-IN)

H.R. 5942, the Dialysis PATIENT (Patient Access to Integrated-Care, Empowerment, Nephrologists, Treatment, and Services) Demonstration Act establishes an ESRD integrated care demonstration program where interdisciplinary teams, led by a nephrologist, provide holistic management for all of the patient's health care needs. This program utilizes the dialysis facility as a central command point for patients to access coordinated health care services.

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