WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan (FL-16) delivered the following opening statement at a hearing on improving kidney health: 

​​​​​​​As prepared for delivery.

“Good afternoon and thank you to the witnesses for being here to discuss an important issue: improving kidney health in America. 

“Chronic kidney disease and End-Stage Renal Disease are devastating and expensive diseases. 

“15 percent of American adults live with some form of CKD, and more than 800,000 patients live with ESRD. 

“These patients are very sick, with more than 500,000 of them requiring multiple hours of dialysis each week. 

“Overall, almost 60 percent of patients die within 5 years of starting dialysis. 

“CKD and ESRD are also very expensive. 

“Despite being only 1 percent of the Medicare population, patients with ESRD account for 7 percent of Medicare expenditures – over $50 billion annually.

“In fact, diabetes and high blood pressure together account for 75 percent of new ESRD cases. 

“We must work together to prevent chronic diseases for patients, or else taxpayers will have to pay the bill. 

“That means improving kidney health by supporting payment policies that increase innovation in treatment and care delivery.

“Additionally, new drugs and medical devices can help patients manage complications from ESRD, but Medicare payment policy must reward this innovation. 

“We must modernize Medicare coverage to better prevent and treat kidney disease, as well as improve patient outcomes. 

“I look forward to discussing this important topic and solutions with my colleagues today.”