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). As we enter the heart of summer, I'm proud to share updates on ASN's steadfast advocacy to advance kidney health and protect the patients and professionals who rely on evidence-based care, access to innovation, and a trustworthy health system.

1. Defending the Independence of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

This month, ASN strongly urged Congress to protect the independence and scientific integrity of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). ASN joined leading medical societies in emphasizing that the USPSTF plays a vital role in ensuring access to evidence-based preventive care—particularly for people with or at risk for kidney disease. Congress must resist efforts to politicize the task force's work and instead uphold the rigorous, transparent review process that supports preventive health coverage under federal law. This is an evolving topic that ASN is actively monitoring and will continue to update the ASN membership via ASN's Kidney Health Advocacy page.

2. Advancing Legislation to Support Living Organ Donors

Earlier this month, ASN proudly supported the introduction of key bipartisan bills that remove barriers to living donation—efforts that ASN helped lead:The Removing Burdens from Organ Donation Act (H.R. 4470), introduced by Representatives Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), and Jim Costa (D-CA), would eliminate unnecessary and outdated obstacles in the living donor process by 1) reducing delays in hospital‑OPO communication, 2) ensuring faster access to critical medical info, 3) supporting improved transplant outcomes, especially for kidney patients, and 4) offering flexibly for hospitals facing infrastructure or disaster challenges.

The re-introduction of the Living Donor Protection Act by Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) as a two-part package consisting of the Living Donor Protection Act (H.R. 4583) and the Living Donor FMLA Protection Act (H.R. 4582). This bill package will encourage more living organ donations and reduce barriers to donation by 1) prohibiting life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donor, 2) amending the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically include living organ donation as a serious health condition for private and civil service employees, and 3) directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to update their education material on living donor benefits, risks, and the new protections under the bill.

These bills reflect ASN's longstanding commitment to increasing access to transplantation and supporting donors every step of the way.

3. Commenting on Front-of-Package Labeling and Nutrient Transparency

In formal comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ASN expressed serious concern over the ongoing absence of phosphorus labeling on food packaging—especially in light of the agency's proposed front-of-package labeling rule. For the kidney community, phosphorus is a critical nutrient that must be monitored closely, and its continued exclusion from required nutrition labels undermines the health and safety of millions of Americans with kidney disease. ASN's message to the FDA is clear: phosphorus must be visible on nutrition labels to empower patients and providers to make informed dietary decisions. 

As always, thank you for your dedication to our field and our patients. I encourage you to explore these and other advocacy updates on ASN's Kidney Health Advocacy page.

Most importantly, your voice is vital to these efforts with ASN being the conduit through which your voice can be heard. I therefore also encourage you to visit the ASN Legislative Action Center to learn more about how you can help advance kidney health policy priorities. Together, we continue to move the needle forward for kidney health and health policy.

 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

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.