National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana Urges Congressional Action on Bipartisan Kidney Care Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2026

BATON ROUGE, LA — The National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana (NKFL) is urging Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to support and co-sponsor critical bipartisan legislation that would strengthen kidney care, expand access to lifesaving organ transplantation, and improve long-term outcomes for patients while protecting Medicare sustainability. The legislation includes the Living Donor Protection Act (S. 1552/ H.R. 4582 & 4583) and the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (H.R. 6214 / S. 2730), two measures designed to improve patient access to care without creating new federal spending.

“Kidney disease disproportionately impacts Louisiana families,” said Michael Wright, President and Chairman of the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana. “These bipartisan bills strengthen Medicare kidney care, remove financial barriers for living organ donors, and improve access to education, screening, and innovative treatments that help patients live longer, healthier lives. We strongly urge our delegation to co-sponsor and advance this legislation.”

Why This Matters for Louisiana

Nearly 13,000 Louisianans are living with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure, 12,500 are on dialysis, and 1,900 are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Ensuring access to high-quality, sustainable kidney care is essential for patients, families, and communities across the state.

The Living Donor Protection Act complements these efforts by removing non-medical barriers that prevent individuals from becoming living organ donors. This bipartisan legislation, with strong industry support and proven state-level success, clarifies job-protected unpaid leave for donation recovery, prohibits insurance discrimination against donors, and improves transparency around donor protections at no cost to the federal government.

The Kidney Care Access Protection Act (KCAPA) is bipartisan legislation introduced in 2025 to strengthen Medicare kidney care by modernizing payment policy and improving patient access.

Key provisions of the Act:

· Support sustainable reimbursement for dialysis providers by addressing inflation and workforce cost pressures

· Create a long-term innovation pathway that allows Medicare to appropriately pay for new dialysis drugs, devices, and technologies

· Improve early detection and education by requiring kidney screenings during annual Medicare wellness visits and expanding access to Kidney Disease Education (KDE) benefits for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

“These policies represent smart, patient-centered solutions that prioritize access, innovation, and fiscal responsibility,” said Torie Kranze, Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana. “By supporting this legislation, Congress can strengthen the kidney care system, expand transplant opportunities, and improve outcomes for patients and families across Louisiana.”

A Call to Action for Louisianans

The National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana is calling on patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community members to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor and support these critical kidney care bills. “When lawmakers hear directly from constituents, it reinforces how personal and urgent these issues are,” Wright added. “Louisiana voices matter, and advocacy can help move these lifesaving policies forward.”

About the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana

The National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana is dedicated to preventing kidney disease, improving the lives of those affected by kidney disease, and increasing access to lifesaving organ transplantation through advocacy, education, and community engagement across the state.

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Media Contact:

Ingrid Amador

ingrid@kidneyla.org

504.861.4500