Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Jason Smith’s legislation, H.R. 5534, the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Act. This legislation ensures thousands of kidney transplant recipients continue to have access to the drugs they need to remain healthy and saves the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.
Specifically, this legislation would extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients who have no other coverage.
Smith said, “Ensuring transplants are successful is more cost-effective and extending Medicare coverage of these drugs ensures transplant patients do not lose their transplanted kidney.” He continued, “These Americans should not have to worry about how they will afford the cost of the medications that allow them to remain healthy and live a completely normal life.”
The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate.