If you are a transplant patient, the federal government wants to hear from you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency that regulates the production of all medications in the United States. To determine whether a drug is placed on the market, the FDA measures whether the benefits of a drug outweigh the risks. READ MORE >>

While some people are more at risk than others for kidney disease, it’s important to know there are some things you can control. Though you can’t change your family history, race or age, you can reduce the chances of developing other conditions that can lead to kidney disease—including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease—through lifestyle changes. READ MORE >>

A diagnosis of kidney failure is life-changing. Because kidney failure has no cure, patients need dialysis or a transplant to live, and the vast majority of patients will be on dialysis. READ MORE >>

Five years ago I learned that my kidneys had failed and I would need to start dialysis to survive. Soon after, I found myself dealing with the sudden death of my mother. Dealing with these two sudden, devastating events at the same time was very challenging and I wasn’t sure how to make things work. READ MORE >>

I’ve had kidney disease for half my life, and I have worked hard to do what I needed to in spite of it—graduating high school, college and graduate school, and pursuing my career in education. READ MORE >>

We have been writing about the vital role of charitable third-party payments of insurance premiums for low-income kidney patients through the American Kidney Fund’s (AKF) Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP) because insurers are lobbying for public policies that would deny this kind of assistance. READ MORE >>

Kaiser Health News recently reported on new research that provides a fresh perspective on the importance of preventive care, early detection and access to nephrologists in improving outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). READ MORE >>

Recently the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will investigate possible inappropriate efforts by providers of dialysis services to steer patients eligible for Medicare and Medicaid into insurance plans paid for by third parties. We think this is an important issue and we fully support the effort to make sure that there is no room for undue influence over patients in choosing their insurance. READ MORE >>