Help us END discrimination for organ donors in Massachusetts (H. 1000)

David Walsh got an early warning that he was going to have issues with his kidneys when he failed the preliminary ROTC physical. From age 23 to 53, he medicated and worked to keep his kidney disease in check. One autumn night, he was driving home and almost passed out and knew he had to go to the doctor. The visit confirmed he had 15% kidney function remaining.

David started dialysis and had to stop working due to a decline in his health. The life that he had been living was halted — until Feb 4, 2020, when he received his kidney transplant.

After recovering, David was back to work in Cambridge and feeling better than he had felt in 20 years.

Every day, we lose 13 members of the kidney disease community who are waiting for a kidney transplant. More than 12,000 people in the Bay State live with kidney failure. In 2020, 1,774 new cases of kidney failure were diagnosed in Massachusetts and only 66 transplants were performed.

Transplants can change a person's life. Just ask David.

We need to do better.

Email your legislators and ask them to support H. 1000 and become co-sponsors. This bill will prevent Massachusetts life, disability, and long-term care insurers from discriminating against living kidney donors. It will prohibit them from declining coverage or charging higher premiums based on someone's status as a living organ donor.

Click here to email your legislators and ask them to support H. 1000 and living donor protections by becoming a co-sponsor.

In addition, please forward this to other kidney disease advocates in Massachusetts. We want to make sure everyone in our community is aware of this opportunity. I will keep you updated on our progress.