New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act
New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act
Plain Language Summary
# New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease Act (HR 1518) - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill aims to improve how the U.S. diagnoses and treats rare kidney diseases by establishing specialized research centers and training programs. It would authorize funding for regional "centers of excellence" at hospitals and universities across the country to focus on rare kidney disease research, public awareness, and developing better diagnostic tools. The bill also requires medical schools that receive federal funding to offer fellowships—specialized training programs—for doctors and health professionals to learn about preventing, diagnosing, and treating these rare conditions. **Who It Affects and Key Details** The bill primarily affects patients with rare kidney diseases, medical schools and research institutions, and the medical professionals who train there.
It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to study rare kidney diseases and their prevalence, while allowing regional centers to operate for up to five years with the possibility of renewal. The funding would come through existing federal health agencies, particularly the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. **Current Status** As of now, the bill is in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
CRS Official Summary
New Era of Preventing End-Stage Kidney Disease ActThis bill establishes regional centers of excellence, postgraduate fellowships, and training for health professionals relating to the diagnosis and treatment of rare kidney disease. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct various studies on rare kidney disease.Specifically, it authorizes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to award funding to public and private nonprofit entities for establishing regional centers of excellence that will increase public awareness, conduct research, and develop resources for diagnosing and treating rare kidney diseases. A center may receive such funding for up to five years, unless extended by the institute. The bill also requires health professions schools receiving a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Centers of Excellence program to award fellowships for training on preventing, diagnosing, and treating rare kidney disease in disproportionately impacted populations.Also, the bill expands the priorities of HRSA’s Primary Care Training and Enhancement program to include training for health care workers to care for individuals with kidney disease.Additionally, HHS must conduct several studies and report to Congress on topics such as treating rare kidney disease in disproportionately affected populations, eliminating the need for dialysis or kidney transplants, and increasing public awareness of rare kidney disease.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.