AKF Ambassadors urge lawmakers to protect living donors and Medicaid during 2025 Kidney Action Summit

On May 7, 30 American Kidney Fund (AKF) Ambassadors representing 18 states and the District of Columbia traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate for policies that help protect living kidney donors and people with kidney disease. Over the course of the day, our Ambassadors had 58 Congressional meetings, including six with their elected official in attendance. They met with senators and representatives and key staff members to make their voices heard by advocating for two vital issues. 

The first: cosponsoring the Living Donor Protection Act of 2025 (S.1552). This bipartisan bill would prevent insurers from denying or canceling coverage, refusing to issue coverage, changing the price of coverage, or otherwise modifying any aspect of a life, disability, or long-term care insurance policy for someone solely because they are a living organ donor.

The second: urging their elected officials to protect Medicaid as Congress considers significant spending cuts to the program. Medicaid is a crucial safety net for people with and at risk for kidney disease. Nearly half of all dialysis patients rely on Medicaid coverage in addition to their Medicare coverage, so this issue is critical to the kidney community, especially low-income patients who would not be able to afford their health care costs without Medicaid.

Thank you to all our Ambassadors for traveling to Washington, DC and advocating for the kidney community!

AKF is grateful to the following Corporate members whose support made this year's Kidney Action Summit possible: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Amgen, Inc.; Ardelyx, Inc.; argenx SE; AstraZeneca plc; Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company; CSL Vifor; Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation; Novo Nordisk A/S; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Pfizer Inc.; Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA); Sanofi; Spherix Global Insights; Travere Therapeutics, Inc. and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.