Advocacy & Public Policy

Kidney Health Advocacy

A Message From ASN President Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN

Dear Colleague:

Thank you for being a member of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). ASN's greatest strength is its members—nephrologists, scientists, and other health professionals—and their commitment to "a world without kidney diseases."

Before describing ASN's efforts to navigate the evolving health care landscape, I'd like to highlight the premier event on the nephrology community's calendar: ASN Kidney Week 2025, which will take place Wednesday, November 5, through Sunday, November 9, in Houston, TX. The fourth largest city in the United States, Houston has an energy unique to a major metropolis that also includes the world's largest medical center.

I encourage you to submit a research abstract or clinical case report to help shape this year's meeting. Presenting your research at Kidney Week offers global exposure, the chance to network with leading experts in nephrology, and the potential to contribute to the future of kidney care. Please submit your abstract by 2:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 21.

Beyond planning for Kidney Week 2025, ASN continues to advocate for policies that improve health, generate knowledge, and strengthen the workforce. For example, as a member of the Coalition for Health Funding, ASN joined more than 525 organizations in raising concerns about a proposed budget for the Department of Health and Human Services that "would cut about one-third of the agency's discretionary spending and effectively devastate our nation's research, scientific, and public health infrastructure" in fiscal year (FY) 2026, which begins on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. This proposal is the first step in a very long process, and ASN will advocate at each step.

In April, ASN also addressed:

1.     Federal Research Funding: ASN joined more than 500 organizations in recommending "at least $51.303 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for FY 2026, in addition to support for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, which would represent a $4.222 billion or 9.0% increase over the final FY 2025 funding level." ASN also joined more than 50 organizations in calling for at least $1.2 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research program.

2.     Transplantation Reform: ASN partnered with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and more than 30 organization to request $67 million in FY 2026 to implement the Securing the U.S. OPTN Act (P.L. 118-14) as well as support increased access to kidney transplantation.

3.     KidneyX Innovator Accelerator: ASN submitted written testimony calling for $25 million in FY 2026 for KidneyX to stimulate private-sector investment in kidney health across prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

4.     Access to Research Data: ASN opposed a proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) limiting access to physical health data files for research purposes. In its comments, ASN reiterated concern that this new policy will jeopardize the future of kidney disease research, especially considering the high cost associated with accessing the Chronic Conditions Warehouse Virtual Research Data Center.

5.     Hemodialysis Supply Chain: ASN worked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the hemodialysis bloodline shortage. In response to a report of a supply disruption in B. Braun's Streamline FMC Bloodlines, FDA officially added these hemodialysis bloodlines to its medical supply shortage list. FDA anticipates that the shortages will continue through early fall. ASN will continue to work closely with FDA and our community to offer recommendations that strengthen the supply chain, including expanding manufacturing, expediting imports, and improving distribution strategies to ensure patient care remains uninterrupted.

6.     Telehealth Policy: ASN urged Congress to pass the CONNECT for Health Act, which would expand coverage of telehealth services through the Medicare program, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, and help patients connect with their doctors—all with the goal of improving health outcomes for Americans.

7.     Global Kidney Health: ASN united with nearly 20 kidney, cardiovascular, and diabetes organizations to encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) to prioritize the health of the more than 850 million people living worldwide with kidney diseases.

Again, thank you. As I've emphasized before, one of the most important aspects of serving as ASN President is to be able to engage with all of you to describe what the society is doing. If you have any questions about this letter, ASN's policy efforts, or how the society can help you, please contact ASN at policy@asn-online.org.

Sincerely,

Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN
President

Advocating for Transformative Change

ASN—both individually and as a member of healthcare, medical, and scientific coalitions—routinely engages Congress and the Trump Administration, advocating for policies to create transformative changes in kidney health. ASN relies on its Health Care Justice Committee, Policy and Advocacy Committee, Quality Committee, and Transplant Policy Committee when formulating, prioritizing, and accomplishing annual policy priorities. A summary of ASN's most recent advocacy efforts follows—including for fiscal year (FY) 2026 kidney health research—in reverse chronological order.

Additional Advocacy Resources

April 2025: On April 16, a 64-page copy of the Department of Health and Human Services' Fiscal Year (FY) 2026
Discretionary Budget "Passback" was leaked. A "passback" is an annual document that the White House
Office of Management and Budget sends to agency heads outlining funding priorities for that
agency in the upcoming president's budget. ASN, in collaboration with the broader scientific and medical community, is actively monitoring the FY 2026 budget and appropriations process. An in-depth analysis of the "passback" can be viewed here.

February 2025: How Trump's Medical Research Cuts Would Hit Colleges and Hospitals in Every State (New York Times).

Council on Governmental Relations Facilities and Administrative Cost Reimbursement Advocacy Materials.

Association of American Medical Colleges Advocacy Resources on Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs:

• A fact sheet outlining key messages and a frequently asked questions overview.
• A comparison of foundations' support for F&A to government support.
• An infographic illustrating what types of expenses are and are not supported by F&A reimbursement.

January 2025: Research!America releases results of national survey showing Americans want President and Congress to assign higher priority to medical progress.