The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is bringing kidney patients, organ donors, care partners and their families together during the U.S. Congressional summer recess to raise awareness of policies affecting kidney care, transplantation, employment and access to medical innovation. Through its annual “All Kidney Policy is Local” campaign, the organization is encouraging patients to share their experiences directly with elected representatives. Since 2025, the campaign has resulted in more than 300 targeted meetings with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
The campaign focuses on several major concerns affecting the kidney community. One key priority is the Living Donor Protection Act, which seeks to protect living organ donors from insurance and employment discrimination related to their decision to donate a kidney.
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Patient advocates are also calling for reforms to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and greater attention to kidney disease screening. Early detection can help identify kidney disease sooner and potentially allow patients to benefit from treatments designed to slow disease progression.
Another priority is reforming the Medicare payment and reimbursement system for kidney care. AAKP says existing payment structures can create barriers to newer treatments and technologies, including innovations aimed at improving dialysis access, reducing complications and advancing kidney care.
“Kidney patients and organ donors are not passive participants in healthcare nor in the decisions that affect their ability to work and provide for their families,” said AAKP President Edward V. Hickey, III, a chronic kidney disease patient. “They are informed, engaged citizens and a powerful voting constituency. Through the All Kidney Policy is Local campaign, AAKP patient advocates bring their firsthand insights directly to elected leaders, ensuring that Congressional decisions made in Washington, D.C., often in the name of kidney patients, actually address their real needs and serious concerns. Every federal kidney policy decision, from dialysis access to transplant funding, ultimately plays out in local communities, affecting patients and families right where they live. When Washington changes kidney care policy, it is local hospitals, local jobs, and the health of entire communities that feel the impact first.”
The organization is also urging greater accountability around the development of next-generation medicines for kidney transplant recipients. Advocates say improved regulatory pathways could help support the development of safer treatments and improve long-term transplant outcomes.
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Beyond policy reform, the campaign highlights the importance of continued federal investment in kidney research and innovation. Advocates are supporting increased funding for kidney science through federal research programmes, alongside emerging technologies such as artificial kidneys and xenotransplantation.
AAKP continues to provide advocacy and social media training for patients and organ donors, while encouraging members of the kidney community to participate in discussions around research, healthcare access and policy decisions.
