Advocacy and Public Policy
Shaping Public Policy for Nephrology Health Professionals
ASN promotes the highest quality care by serving as the professional organization informing health policy in kidney disease. Click on the magnifying glass to search by keyword or follow links at the left for more information.
ASN Urges Congress to support Kidney Health Research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health
In a letter to the House and Senate leaders on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, ASN, ANNA, ASPN, and RPA request Congress to provide no less than a $16.7 million increase in funding for NIDDK and to support ARPA-H''s initial investment in the development of bioartificial kidneys.
- Posted Wednesday, May 01, 2024 @ 1:49 PM
ASN and more than 20 organizations urge Congress to provide $67 million for HRSA''s Organ Transplantation Program
In a letter to Congressional leaders on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, ASN urges Congress to ensure patients and their families are better served by a higher performing transplant system by providing $67 million for HRSA''s Organ Transplantation Program to fully implement the reforms in the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act.
- Posted Wednesday, May 01, 2024 @ 12:00 PM
ASN and RPA Send Letter to HHS Regarding the Proposed Retrospective Trend Adjustments to the CKCC
On March 29, 2024, the American Society of Nephology (ASN) and the Renal Physicians Association (RPA) sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Administrator and Director for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Elizabeth Fowler, Ph.D., J.D. expressing concern over the proposed retrospective trend adjustments to the Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting (CKCC) of the Kidney Care Choices model. In the letter, ASN and RPA urge CMS to narrow the risk corridors within the model or consider proposals to ensure continued participation in the CKCC by nephrologists and nephrology practices.
- Posted Tuesday, April 30, 2024 @ 11:00 AM
ASN and RPA Send Letter Urging Congress to Request that CMS Address the Retroactive Trend Adjustments to the CKCC
On March 29, 2024, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the Renal Physicians Association (RPA) sent a letter to Congress urging them to request that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services address the excessive retrospective trend adjustment (RTA) policy they plan to apply to the Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting (CKCC) of the Kidney Care Choices model.
- Posted Tuesday, April 30, 2024 @ 10:51 AM
ASN Supports OPTN Board Independence, Questions Proposed Timeline
ASN strongly supports a fully independent OPTN board but questions why this change is proposed at this time with such an expedited timeframe.
- Posted Thursday, March 14, 2024 @ 2:56 PM
ASN urges Congress to exclude oral-only medication from the ESRD bundle
In a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee leadership, ASN urges to continue excluding oral-only medication from the ESRD bundle to support access to care. It is vital to ensure equitable access to care is promoted, especially to the at-risk patient population.
- Posted Friday, March 01, 2024 @ 4:48 PM
More than 30 Senators urge Senate leadership to cancel the 3.37% cut to physician Medicare payments
In a bipartisan effort, 32 Senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell urging for a legislative solution to protect access to Medicare services by canceling the 3.37% cut to physician Medicare payments that went into effect on January 1.
- Posted Friday, March 01, 2024 @ 9:47 AM
ASN Urges Congress to Address Medicare Payment Cut
Starting Jan. 1, 2024, physicians participating in Medicare are facing an additional 3.37% payment cut. ASN joined members of the American Medical Association urging Congress to take action and address these harmful cuts.
- Posted Friday, March 01, 2024 @ 8:51 AM
How to Use G2211
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing a separate add-on payment for healthcare common procedure coding system (HCPCS) code G2211. Learn about how to use it.
- Posted Friday, March 01, 2024 @ 8:40 AM
ASN Raises Concerns About Proposed OPTN Expedited Placement Variance Proposal
ASN is strongly supportive of policy changes to decrease organ nonuse rates and increase both patient access and system efficiency, the society has several concerns and recommendations regarding the proposed approach. As OPTN pursues increasing efficiency and decreasing nonuse, the values of utility, equity and transparency can and should be advanced simultaneously in a balanced fashion.
- Posted Tuesday, February 06, 2024 @ 11:48 AM
ASN & 50 organizations urge Congress to delay integrating oral-only Phosphate Lowering Therapies into the ESRD bundle
In a sign on letter, ASN urges Congress to pass the Kidney PATIENT Act of 2023 (H.R. 5074) to protect patient access to ESRD oral-only drugs by delaying the implementation of Phosphate Lowering Therapies into the ESRD bundle until 2033 or until the FDA approves an intravenous treatment for lowering phosphate.
- Posted Thursday, January 18, 2024 @ 12:18 PM
Waiting time modifications for candidates affected by race-inclusive eGFR calculations
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Policy 3.7.D requires transplant programs to assess their waiting lists and submit waiting time modifications for Black candidates affected by race-inclusive eGFR calculations. As a reminder, all kidney programs are required to complete all policy requirements by January 3, 2024.
- Posted Tuesday, November 28, 2023 @ 9:57 AM
ASN urges Congress to advance the Value in Health Care Act H.R. 5013
23 physician & health care associations & more than 600 health systems, hospitals, physician practices, & accountable care organizations urge Congress to bolster & advance the transition to value-based payment models by extending the 5 percent advanced alternative payment model (APM) incentive payments.
- Posted Wednesday, October 18, 2023 @ 1:50 PM
ASN & more than 20 organizations urge lawmakers to enact policies to mitigate forthcoming Medicare reimbursement cuts
Physician and health professional organizations are urging Congress to pass, Providing Relief and Stability for Medicare Patients Act (H.R. 3674) and Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474) to protect against policy updates that generate disproportionate payment reductions.
- Posted Wednesday, October 18, 2023 @ 10:11 AM
ASN Reponses to OPTN Summer Comment Period
ASN provides responses to five key policies raised as part of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Summer Comment Period.
- Posted Wednesday, September 20, 2023 @ 1:55 PM
ASN Comments on CMS-1784 CY2024 Physician Fee Schedule
In this letter ASN comments on nine proposed policy changes to CMS-1784 CY2024 Physician Fee Schedule.
- Posted Sunday, September 10, 2023 @ 11:39 AM
ASN Responds to CMS-1782-P CY2024 ESRD PPS QIP Proposed Rule
In this letter, ASN comments on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)''s CY2024 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS), Quality Incentive Program (QIP), and End-Stage Renal Disease (ETC) Model proposed rule.
- Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2023 @ 2:57 PM
ASN and NKF Urge Congressional Leaders to Confirm President Biden's Nominee for NIH Director
In a letter to Congressional leaders, ASN and NKF expressed strong support for Dr. Monica Bertagnolli as the next Director of the National Institutes of Health. ASN and NKF note her leadership at the helm of the world's leading biomedical innovation ecosystem is necessary to provide hope for and signal to the 37 million Americans living with kidney diseases, the nearly 800,000 thousand Americans with kidney failure, and their families and care partners that new scientific discoveries and therapies are on the horizon.
- Posted Tuesday, August 15, 2023 @ 4:56 PM
ASN responds to Yale CORE request for comment on the development of an eCQM to address social needs
In this letter, ASN responds to The Yale Center For Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) requests for feedback on the development of an eCQM designed to measure screening of patients for social needs within four domains: food insecurity, housing insecurity, utlility insecurity, and transportation. ASN believes the collection of social needs data within an eCQM is a positive step in identifying impacted individuals, collecting data, and identifying rates of follow-up efforts along with existing gaps.
- Posted Thursday, July 06, 2023 @ 11:03 AM
ASN signs on to letter urging the Federal Aviation Administration to promote efficient transportation of donated organs
ASN and more than 30 organizations urge Congress to consider provisions in the Federal Aviation Administrative reauthorization to develop regulations to enable the transportation of a donated organ in the passenger cabin instead of in a cargo hold of an airplane.
- Posted Wednesday, June 14, 2023 @ 12:23 PM
ASN comments on CMS-1797: Medicare Program; FY24 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update
In the letter, ASN responds to a request for information (RFI) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) on dialysis in the current hospice care model. ASN''s comment letter focuses on three areas- concurrent hospice and dialysis, palliative approaches to dialysis, and upstream models of palliative care for kidney failure.
- Posted Wednesday, May 31, 2023 @ 1:58 PM
ASN and organizations representing kidney patients, caregivers, and health professionals commend the introduction of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act (S. 1668)
ASN commends Senator Wyden, Senator Grassley, Senator Cardin, Senator Young, Senator Cassidy, Senator Warren, Senator Moran, and Senator Booker for their leadership to ensure that patients are optimally served, strengthening accountability, equity, and performance in the organ donation and transplantation system.
- Posted Thursday, May 25, 2023 @ 2:48 PM
ASN and more than 30 organizations urge Congress to protect patient's access to laboratory testing by enacting H.R. 2377 / S. 1000 Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act
ASN and organizations representing health care providers, clinical and pathology laboratories, laboratory professionals, and diagnostic manufacturers urge Congress to pass the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (H.R. 2377 / S. 1000) to bolster clinical diagnostic testing for patients and update the Medicare payment system.
- Posted Tuesday, May 23, 2023 @ 11:58 AM
ASN sends letter to the white house on the end of the public health emergency
In the letter to the Biden-Harris Administration, ASN stresses that despite the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, COVID-19 remains a threat to the nearly 37 million Americans with kidney disease. ASN also presents the administration with four asks aimed at ensuring the health and safety of Americans who remain high-risk.
- Posted Thursday, May 11, 2023 @ 3:06 PM
ASN and 30 organizations commend the introduction of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act (H.R. 2544) in a congressional sign-on letter
In the letter, ASN and thirty partner organizations commend Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. and Congresswoman Robin Kelly for introducing bipartisan legislation that aims to ensure that the U.S. organ transplant network is as effective and efficient as it possibly can be in meeting the transplant care needs of Americans affected by kidney failure.
- Posted Tuesday, May 09, 2023 @ 11:40 AM