Kidney initiatives needed

I was dismayed to read the recent article “Coronavirus in Massachusetts: 28 more deaths, 373 new cases” describing the ongoing impact COVID-19 is having across the state. My mother has had three kidney transplants, both my father and I donated one of our kidneys to her. I’m particularly concerned that as cases continue to climb across the country, my mother, and other kidney transplant recipients, have an increased chance of dying from COVID-19.

Coronavirus is adding to the ranks of the 37 million American adults affected by kidney disease, as some COVID-19-survivors develop acute kidney injury, a condition that could cause permanent kidney damage. Increased incidence of kidney disease may end up becoming the secret legacy of COVID-19, at a time when the federal budget is not prepared to address this tidal wave of need.

Despite research that shows that early detection and intervention can slow or stop the progression of kidney disease, the federal government spends almost nothing on kidney health initiatives. At the same time, Medicare spends more than $120 billion annually — 24% of its budget — on patients with kidney failure; why is our budget allocated to only addressing the end, when money should be spent on awareness and prevention?

Taxpayers would be better served if the federal government allocated funding to awareness, prevention, and early intervention so patients would not advance to kidney failure when they require expensive dialysis or a transplant to survive.

I’m calling on our federal lawmakers to prioritize funding to address kidney health in the coming fiscal year. In the wake of COVID-19, the need is greater than ever for kidney patients, their families and the professionals who care for them.

— Robin Kahn, Watertown