WASHINGTON—Thirty leaders from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN visited more than 50 Congressional offices on the second annual ASN Hill Day urging U.S. Senators and Representatives to support pending legislation and key policies that will improve the lives of the 26 million Americans with kidney disease.

ASN leaders urged Congress to do the following:

• Pass pending legislation for lifetime coverage of anti-rejection drugs for transplant recipients, saving lives and dollars (HR2969);
  
• Support and promote the programs necessary to eliminate disparities in kidney care. Groups most affected by these disparities include African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans;
  
• Provide NIH the necessary funds to enable researchers to continue to make gains in addressing the growing threat kidney disease poses to public health.

ASN's mission is to educate health professionals, share new knowledge, advance research, and advocate the highest quality care for patients. The society, which currently has more than 13,500 members, has been devoted to these goals since 1966.

• 26 million+ Americans have kidney disease. Only 1 in 10 with the disease know they have it.
• 570,000+ Americans have kidney failure, and they account for nearly 7% of Medicare costs.
• Transplant recipients need immunosuppressive drugs but Medicare covers them for only 36 months.
• The NIH and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases need more funds.
• African Americans are 4 times more likely to progress to kidney failure than whites.
• Hispanics and American Indians are 2 times more likely to progress to kidney failure than whites.
• In poor neighborhoods, African Americans are 58% less likely to be wait-listed for a transplant than whites.
• The Kidney Disease Equitable Access, Prevention, and Research Act reduces kidney-related disparities.