The fact that over 100,000 Chronic Kidney Disease patients are currently awaiting a Kidney Transplant and 13 people die each day while waiting for a life-saving kidney transplant (reported by the National Kidney Foundation) highlights a critical issue in the United States (and across the world) that has yet to be addressed. What's more shocking is that the number of people on the national waiting list has continued to grow while rates of Kidney Transplantation have stagnated (leveled-off).  

Recommended Reading: Sign This Petition To Change Policies Which Discriminate Against And Deter Living Kidney Donors

That is why KidneyBuzz.com is encouraging all of our readers with Chronic Kidney Disease including those on Dialysis and their loved ones to sign the below petition urging Congress to promptly pass the Living Donor Protection Act to help those currently waiting for a kidney transplant actually improve their chances of getting one. Your initial petition support helped garner Senate sponsorship for the bill and "propel the vital legislation’s introduction in both houses of Congress," suggested Newswise. We cannot let this critical bill stop here. Our peers and loved ones within the Chronic Kidney Disease Community are dying: Let's take action now!

Recommended Reading: A Heart Felt Story: How CKD Patient's Family Obtains Donor Kidney From Total Stranger

The bipartisan Living Donor Protection Act would help increase access to kidney transplants by achieving the three (3) following goals:

1. Protecting Donors - The bill prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurers from denying or limiting coverage or from charging higher premiums to living organ donors. 
2. Securing Jobs of Altruistic Living Kidney Donors during recovery - The legislation directly notes that Kidney Donors can use Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) time to recover from donation surgery and maintain their job security as well as continue their group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the donor had not taken leave.
3. Educating Americans about Living Kidney Donation - The bill will now specifically direct the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to educate Americans about living organ donation which is largely misunderstood today. This would help dispel myths and build confidence in the safety of the donation process.

All of these provisions, KidneyBuzz.com has called for in the past and requested that members of the Chronic Kidney Disease Community, such as yourself, support to improve Living Kidney Donation. Now Congress is stepping forward and offering a comprehensive bill which can directly help Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients. For that reason, Rep. Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Burgess (R-TX), Sen. Kirk (R-IL), and Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) should all be commended for their courage and action to take the big step forward and introduce this bipartisan legislation.

Recommended Reading: Man Explained Why He Chose To Donate His Kidney To A Complete Stranger With Chronic Kidney Disease

Let's do our part and strongly encourage congress to take action and pass this bill immediately. According to Newswise, "Every 14 minutes a patient is added to the kidney wait list." Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients need the hope that they will someday get the call from their Transplant Center saying that they have a match. By having more Living Kidney Donors willing to donate, then there may be fewer people on the Kidney Transplant Waiting List which would allow others to get a Cadaveric (Deceased) Kidney Donor sooner.

Recommended Reading: Concrete Findings For CKD Patients About Living Kidney Donors' Kidney Function After Transplant

Be sure to share your story with others. A growing number of people are finding their matching Altruistic Living Kidney Donors via Social Media. Should this legislation pass, patients can likely expect this trend to increase as more people may consider the idea of donation and look to connect with people in need of a Kidney Transplant. If you need help sharing your story and your need for a Kidney Transplant, then click here to sign up for the KidneyBuzz.com Find A Kidney Donor Campaign.

Recommended Reading: Living Kidney Donors Jump To Front Of Kidney Transplant Waiting List If They Ever Need Transplant

Do you support this legislation? Does it go far enough to correct the dramatically growing need for Kidney Transplants in the United States? Click here to share your answer at the KidneyBuzz.com Facebook Fan Page (36,000+ Friends). Also, be sure to Like KidneyBuzz.com while you are there, and consider following the over 115,000 monthly visitors to KidneyBuzz.com for your Number One (#1) source of Daily News, Information, Impact Meals, Inspirational Quotes, and tailored Products and Services which teach Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure patients how to better manage and improve their lives. 

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