Key Takeaways
Government legislation shapes kidney disease care.
Voting gives people the ability to influence healthcare policies. Early voting, mail-in ballots, and curbside voting are available.
National Kidney Foundation’s advocacy group Voices for Kidney Health helps people share their stories and engage lawmakers.
Voting is a powerful way to influence the policies that impact your life. By participating in elections and advocating for change, you can help shape the future. Dr. Jesse Roach, NKF’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations, and Lauren Drew, NKF's Congressional Relations Director, explain why your vote matters and how to get involved.
How Laws Affect People with Kidney Disease
Many aspects of kidney disease are affected by government policies.
"Dialysis and transplantation are covered by Medicare because of an amendment to the Social Security Act in 1972. Prior, Medicare only covered people over the age of 65," Dr. Roach said. "That law has been amended numerous times to improve quality of care for dialysis and transplant patients."
Government agencies like the National Institutes of Health and CDC are also responsible for funding kidney disease research and surveillance initiatives that help better understand how widespread kidney disease is and which people are at the most risk of developing it.
"Almost all of the kidney and healthcare space is touched by the government: dialysis clinic regulations, organ donation regulations, and funded research that help create innovative treatments," said Drew. "This is why it's so important for kidney patients to be involved in creating or updating legislation and policies."
Why Your Vote Matters
Government officials are responsible for ensuring their constituents' voices are heard regarding laws that affect healthcare policies, including Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drug prices, and telehealth services. Elections determine who gets that honor.
"Many people don't realize how much power their vote holds," Drew said. "The people we elect have a direct say in the healthcare laws that affect you."
Before voting, you should understand each candidate's stance on issues important to you. Look the candidate up. Their website should provide detailed information on their policy ideas, including kidney health and healthcare in general. You can also call or email them to learn more.
"The 2024 Presidential election is going to be close," Dr. Roach said. "Some elections are won by a few thousand votes. Your voice and your vote is important. It can make an impact."
For people who may have difficulty getting to a polling place due to health, there are options to ensure their voices are still heard.
Accessible voting options include:
Early voting
Mail-in ballots
Curbside voting
"Every state has provisions for people who are unable because of health reasons to vote in a different manner. Check your state's voting website to learn what they are," Dr. Roach said.
"Even if you aren’t immunocompromised or have a disability, you should always make a plan to vote. Make sure you are registered and find your polling place."
Advocacy Beyond the Election
All of the improvements in policy were only possible with the work of kidney advocates during and after election years.
"Medicare used to only cover transplant medication for three years. Advocates pushed for more and now Medicare covers these medications indefinitely," Dr. Roach said. "These efforts are a direct result of patient and organizations lobbying. It's tangible proof that interactions with the government can improve policy."
National Kidney Foundation's Voices for Kidney Health is an advocacy group dedicated to helping people affected by kidney disease impact the government and improve lives.
"We equip kidney patients with the education they need to advocate for themselves and others in the healthcare sphere. Democracy only works when people show up. If we make it difficult for people with chronic illness to show up, their voices aren't heard in the policy process," said Drew. "Voices for Kidney Health is really about making sure patients know how government and policy can impact them and what they can do to improve laws."
Voices kidney advocates learn how to:
Speak with members of Congress
Set up meetings with state legislators or their aids
Write an op-ed or letter to the editor
Advocate on social media
Share your story to encourage friends and family to learn more about kidney disease
"We also have the Kidney Patient Summit, a yearly event that brings kidney patients to Washington D.C. to speak with their congress members. We teach them how to share their stories to insight change and the legislation or policies NKF is currently working on," Drew said. "Politics can sometimes feel like a dirty word. We want people to have a positive feeling about it and find their own path to advocacy."
Your voice matters! Start your path to advocacy. See all the ways you can take action today.
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