UPDATE: On Tuesday, 2/25, the House passed a budget proposal that included large cuts to Medicaid. We will not stop our advocacy, and encourage you all to continue contacting your Senators!

This Alert has been updated to ONLY CONTACT SENATORS.

Medicaid serves as a vital lifeline for millions of Americans, including nearly half of all patients in kidney failure. This essential program helps cover the enormous costs of dialysis treatments along with transportation to dialysis facilities, critical medications, specialist visits, and dietary management services.

How This Could Affect Your Care

1. Before Dialysis: More than 1 in 3 kidney patients rely on Medicaid before they need dialysis. These cuts could make it harder to get the early care that helps prevent or delay kidney failure, especially if you live in a rural area.

2. Access to Specialists: It might become harder to see kidney doctors, particularly if you live in a rural or low-income area. Right now, Medicaid patients already see specialists less often than Medicare patients, and these cuts could make this problem worse.

3. Starting Dialysis: The changes could affect how and when you start dialysis treatment. Getting the right start with dialysis (like having a proper access site created in your arm) is crucial for your health, but these cuts might make it harder to get this important preparation.

4. Home Dialysis: If you're interested in doing dialysis at home (which many patients prefer), these cuts could make it harder to get the training and support you need, especially in rural areas.

5. Kidney Transplants: Getting on the transplant waiting list and receiving a transplant could become more difficult, particularly if you live far from a transplant center.

Congress has proposed cuts to Medicaid that put these vulnerable patients at grave risk. If Congress moves forward with these proposed Medicaid cuts, many kidney patients will lose these vital support services and see their costs increase.

Please urge your representatives in Congress to protect Medicaid funding and preserve healthcare access for Americans living with kidney disease.