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 Resubmits 2021 Comments in Support of Vifer's Citizen Petition
In this comment letter, ASN reiterates the supplemental comments originally provided in 2021 in support of Vifer's citizen petition (Docket No. FDA-2021-P-0893). The petition requests that the FDA reverse certain actions announced on May 26, 2021. These actions include, among other things, changes to the established names and active ingredient names of sucroferric oxyhydroxide and three IV iron products—iron sucrose, sodium ferric gluconate, and iron dextran—to "ferric oxyhydroxide." FDA''s actions also included steps to implement the change in active ingredient name in Drugs@FDA and the Orange Book.
- Posted Thursday, September 26, 2024 @ 2:36 PM
ASN Questions Continued Pursuit of Continuous Distribution
Responding to an OPTN Summer Comment Period Update on ongoing advancement of a Continuous Distribution allocation framework, ASN raised concerns about challenges and inefficiencies experienced with the existing allocation framework and questioned whether further expansion of this approach makes sense in light of the available data.
- Posted Thursday, September 26, 2024 @ 2:26 PM
ASN Joins 120+ Organizations in Sign-on Letter to Urge Congress to Fix Physician Payment
ASN joins 120+ organizations in sign-on letter to urge Congress to fix physician payment in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
- Posted Monday, September 16, 2024 @ 3:39 PM
ASN Joins Kidney Community to Urge the of Finalization FY25 Labor HHS Appropriations Bill
ASN joins kidney community to urge the of finalization FY25 Labor HHS Appropriations Bill.
- Posted Monday, September 16, 2024 @ 3:28 PM
ASN Comments on CMS-1807-P: CY2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
ASN comments on CMS-1807-P: CY2025 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments
- Posted Wednesday, September 11, 2024 @ 2:34 PM
ASN Comments on CMS-1805-P: CY25 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System
ASN comments on CMS-1805-P: CY2025 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Payment for Renal Dialysis Services Furnished to Individuals with Acute Kidney Injury, Conditions for Coverage for End-Stage Renal Disease Facilities, End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program, and End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices Model
- Posted Monday, August 26, 2024 @ 3:40 PM
ASN Comments on House Proposed NIH Reforms
ASN submitted comments to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on its proposal titled Reforming the National Institutes of Health Framework for Discussion. The NIH restructuring proposed in the framework is also reflected in the House Appropriations Committees'' Fiscal Year 2025 "Labor-HHS" bill.
- Posted Friday, August 16, 2024 @ 4:52 PM
ASN commends CMMI for proposing the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model
ASN submits comments on the CMMI IOTA Model and strongly supports its aim to increase patient access to kidney transplantation.
- Posted Wednesday, July 17, 2024 @ 12:25 PM
ASN opposes NIH cuts and restructuring policies in the FY25 LHHS House Appropriations bill
In a letter to the House Appropriations Committee leaders, ASN, and more than 200 organizations, urge the committee to oppose the Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill, in its current form, proposes restructuring the NIH and cutting funding for public health and biomedical research programs, among other changes.
- Posted Wednesday, July 10, 2024 @ 11:55 AM
ASN Requests CMMI Undertake Additional Rulemaking on ETC Model
In this letter, ASN requests the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) undertake additional rulemaking on the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) Model.
- Posted Tuesday, June 04, 2024 @ 11:34 AM
ASN Responds to CMS RFI on Research Data Request and Access Policy Changes
ASN responds to CMS's Request for Information (RFI) on Research Data Request and Access Policy Changes that was first proposed on February 14, 2024 and updated on March 1, 2024.
- Posted Tuesday, June 04, 2024 @ 10:13 AM
ASN Responds to CMS RFI on Medicare Advantage Data
ASN responds to "CMS-4207-NC Medicare Program; Request for Information on Medicare Advantage Data". In this letter, ASN addresses the following topics- missing data on enrollment, questions of transparency, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs), network adequacy, equity, and prior authorizations.
- Posted Tuesday, June 04, 2024 @ 10:03 AM
ASN Responds to NIDDK RFI on U2C-TL1 Award
ASN responds to NIDDK's Request for Information on KUH's U2C-TL1 Award (NOT-DK-24-018). ASN''s response to the RFI reflects perspectives of the society''s members, leadership, and staff as well as the academic nephrology community at large.
- Posted Monday, May 20, 2024 @ 4:30 PM
Congressional Kidney Caucus sends letters to House Appropriations Committee
In an effort to address the needs of the US transplant system, living donors, and innovation in kidney care, the Congressional Kidney Caucus urges Appropriators to increase investment in the HRSA's OPTN Modernization Initiative, Living Donor Reimbursement Program, and KidneyX.
- Posted Thursday, May 16, 2024 @ 3:50 PM
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