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April 2, 2013
Greetings! 

TopOrgan donation is no joke, so we didn't send out this RenAlert on April Fool's Day. Happy Organ Donor Awareness/Donate Life month. Our good friend Mandy, who has had two kidney transplants and gave birth to a healthy baby boy earlier this year, is our highlighted story in this issue. What a happy way to start this month.
Have You Heard the Latest on KidneyTalk?
Pregnancy and Kidney Disease 
photo of Trolinger family
As a physician assistant and renal dietician, Mandy understands the medical risks involved and explains what she learned during her pregnancy about immunosuppressants, weight gain, and breastfeeding. She also describes what she had to do to deliver the healthy baby boy whom she and her husband Steve named Brandon. Listen Now

Read All About It!
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2013

...was reintroduced in Congress.

 

H.R. 1325 and S. 323 were reintroduced by Rep. Michael Burgess (TX) and Ron Kind (WI) and Senator Richard Durbin (IL) and Thad Cochran (MS).

 

Medicare currently provides coverage of anti-rejection medications for 36 months after a transplant for patients under the age of 65. This bill would extend Medicare coverage of the medications for the life of the graft. This policy will ensure that transplant recipients will not have to worry about losing coverage of these critical drugs, and potentially the donated organ, after 3 years. This legislation would also encourage patients to pursue a transplant who may be reluctant to get on the transplant list due to the uncertainty of medical coverage after 36 months. Additionally, this fiscally-responsible bill will save valuable resources in our health system, as itis far less costly to pay for anti-rejection medications than to have a patient remain on dialysis.

 

Laugh About It
Kidney Humor
 

Thanks to everyone who "likes" us on Facebook, "sharing" and "liking" our posts helps us reach others with the message that an illness is too demanding if you don't have hope.

 

Sincerely,

Lori Hartwell
President and Founder
Renal Support Network 
An illness is too demanding if you don't have hope!
www.RSNhope.org