Day on the Hill

On May 20, 2026, RHA held a successful 2026 Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C., bringing together kidney care professionals and advocates from across the country to meet directly with lawmakers and congressional staff on issues impacting dialysis providers and the patients they serve.

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During the program, 21 RHA members met with 35 House and Senate offices representing 17 states, including key congressional leadership offices and members serving on committees with jurisdiction over dialysis and renal healthcare issues. Throughout the meetings, RHA members advocated for the passage of two priority pieces of legislation: the Kidney Care Access Protection Act (H.R. 6214 / S. 2730) and the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (H.R. 2199 / S. 1173).

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RHA members also discussed the growing operational and financial pressures facing dialysis providers, including rising labor and supply costs, workforce shortages, barriers to home dialysis and innovative therapies, and challenges related to Medicare Advantage enrollment among ESRD patients. Conversations emphasized the importance of preserving access to life-sustaining dialysis care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

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The Kidney Care Access Protection Act is a bipartisan bill that would support patient access to innovative therapies by allowing CMS to make direct payments to providers for Medicare Advantage enrollees receiving Transitional Drug Add-on Payment Adjustment (TDAPA) and Transitional Add-on Payment Adjustment for New and Innovative Equipment and Supplies (TPNIES) therapies. The bill would also establish a forecast error adjustment, requiring CMS to update annual payment rates when projected and actual cost growth differ significantly.

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The bipartisan and bicameral Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act would help ensure patients with ESRD maintain fair access to private healthcare coverage.

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The 2026 Day on the Hill once again demonstrated the importance of advocacy and the collective voice of the renal community in advancing policies that support independent dialysis providers and protect patient access to high-quality kidney care.

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