SR0576 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0576 LRB093 22330 WGH 51479 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, More than 20 million Americans, about one in nine adults, have a form of chronic kidney disease; of these, more than eight million have seriously reduced kidney functions that, if left untreated, may progress to a more severe level of chronic kidney disease; and

WHEREAS, Chronic kidney disease and the resultant progression of that disease to stage 5 chronic kidney disease, known as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), affect over 300,000 Americans, of whom over 12,800 are Illinoisans; and

WHEREAS, People over the age of 50 and those who have a family history of kidney disease or have been diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease; and

WHEREAS, Certain populations are disproportionately impacted; African Americans make up 15.5% of the general population of Illinois but account for 42.1% of Illinoisans with stage 5 chronic kidney disease or End Stage Renal Disease; and

WHEREAS, Stage 5 chronic kidney disease or End Stage Renal Disease is three times more likely to occur in Hispanics and Native Americans and two times more likely in Asian Americans than in Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, 95% of all stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients are either Medicare beneficiaries through a unique federal program or Medicaid beneficiaries representing a significant cost to the State, and, according to the United States Renal Data Service, these yearly expenditures amount to about $60,000 per Illinoisan and are growing each year; and

WHEREAS, The combined financial impact of this devastating disease on Illinois' health care system is over $768 million annually; and

WHEREAS, The two contributing factors accounting for more than 60% of new cases of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and hypertension; and

WHEREAS, Chronic kidney disease may lead to cardiovascular complications, bone disease, and irreversible kidney failure; and

WHEREAS, A person may exhibit no symptoms of chronic kidney disease until 75% or more of kidney function is lost and this devastating disease can be prevented through early screening and proper education; and

WHEREAS, Simple, cost-effective means are available to identify and diagnose chronic kidney disease and associated life-threatening complications; and

WHEREAS, Cost-effective means can determine levels of kidney function and provide information for clinicians about therapeutic interventions that may preserve kidney function, sustain life, and delay progression to stage 5 chronic kidney disease or renal transplantation, or both; and

WHEREAS, Evidence-based clinical guidelines have been developed by scientists and renal experts and published in peer-reviewed journals; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we request the Illinois Department of Public Aid to institute a program by which individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension or who have a family history of kidney disease and receive a diagnosis of kidney disease shall be classified as chronic kidney disease patients; and be it further

RESOLVED, That these patients shall be evaluated for kidney disease through routine clinical laboratory assessments of kidney function and that the diagnostic criteria that define chronic kidney disease shall be any generally-recognized clinical practice guidelines that identify chronic kidney disease based on the presence of kidney damage and the level of kidney function; and be it further

RESOLVED, That chronic kidney patients shall receive coverage for diagnostic testing and healthcare services that have been certified by the patient's physician as having clinical benefit for: (1) managing risk factors that prolong kidney function or delay progression to kidney replacement therapy; (2) managing risk factors for bone disease and cardiovascular disease associated with chronic kidney disease; (3) improving nutritional status of chronic kidney disease patients; and (4) correcting anemia associated with chronic kidney disease; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Aid.