Congress Proposes Expanding Medicare Coverage for Kidney Disease Screening and Innovative Treatments
This bill is currently sitting in the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees. It has not moved since November 2025, which is seven months of inactivity. Because most bills do not receive a committee vote, this proposal is considered stalled.
No action since November 2025
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Many dialysis centers are operated as small or independent facilities. The bill's labor cost adjustments, which correct for forecast errors in the ESRD market basket, help ensure these facilities get reimbursed at rates that reflect actual staffing costs. Extended and permanent add-on payments for new drugs and devices also reduce the financial risk of adopting innovative treatments, helping smaller providers stay competitive and financially viable.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
The Renal Physicians Association (RPA) highlighted support for the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (H.R. 6214), which includes provisions to improve the underutilized Medicare Kidney Disease Education (KDE) benefit and ensure equitable reimbursement for nephrology services.
Medical experts noted that the Kidney Care Access Protection Act, introduced in late 2025, aims to create sustainable pathways for innovation and parity in Medicare Advantage payments for kidney care, addressing limitations in current reimbursement for new drugs and technologies.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) detailed the introduction of the bipartisan Kidney Care Access Protection Act with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). The bill aims to modernize Medicare's payment system to ensure dialysis facilities can stay open and patients can access innovative treatments.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Kidney Care Access Protection Act
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