A Non-Profit 501c3 Kidney Patient Empowerment Organization

Transplant Costs vs Dialysis

The Living Kidney Donor Support Act would benefit tens of thousands of Americans and save billions of tax dollars.
This organ shortage is costly to the people who end up waiting longer for transplant or who die awaiting one, and to taxpayers who pay most of the health care costs of people with end-stage kidney disease.
Transplants cost $133,000, and immunosuppressant medications cost $25,000, while dialysis costs $90,000 a year. That means that in Year 1 the government pays $133,000 per transplant and $25,000 for immunosuppressants —but stops paying dialysis costs. For the next nine years, it continues paying for immunosuppressants instead of dialysis, realizing $65,000 in savings each of those years the patient is not on dialysis. In essence, transplant costs would be paid off in two years and produce eight years of savings, or just over $500,000.

Extending Transplant Immunosuppression Coverage Saves Money

HHS reports a 73 Million Dollar Savings Over 10 Years, by extending immunosuppressive medication coverage for kidney transplant patients under Medicare

Kidney transplant recipients and donors reached a significant milestone with the release of new findings. On May 10, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released an analysis that estimates extending coverage for immunosuppressive medications (for kidney transplant patients on Medicare) would save $73 million over 10 years

This is monumental news for the kidney and transplant community. ASPE has confirmed (through this analysis) what we’ve long known to be true—extending Medicare coverage for immunosuppressive medications would prolong the viability of transplanted kidneys while also saving Medicare money.

Let lawmakers know that you support the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act—a bipartisan solution that protects and honors the organ donor’s gift and their recipient’s transplant, by extending drug coverage for the life of the transplant. Download PDF Fact Sheet.

Your voice can help extend immunosuppressive drug coverage.

Learn more now. Join Honor the Gift Campaign 

WordPress Image Lightbox Plugin