The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) works to shape public policy on behalf of kidney disease patients and those at risk, those with diabetes and high blood pressure, the leading causes of kidney failure. It is our goal to assess and support proposed state and federal policies that will help us to move toward a healthier Michigan and prevent chronic kidney disease when possible.
Consider joining us for the 2013 Advocacy Day on April 30th!
Advocacy Focus:
The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan's main focus is maintaining the state funding for programs to prevent or manage diabetes high blood pressure and kidney disease. These programs are critical to improving quality of life for those living with kidney disease and those at risk. We work to maintain this funding and educate lawmakers about its importance.
As advocates for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, we also keep track of policies related to access to medications, medical treatment for diabetes and kidney patients, and policies that promote healthy and safe communities. All of these policies can play a role in preventing or managing diabetes and high blood pressure - which contribute to approximately 70% of cases of kidney failure.
The NKFM also advocate for policies that increase organ donation in Michigan.
As care coordination expands within healthcare, NKFM advocates for patients with both Medicaid and Medicare (often referred to dual eligibles).
Volunteer
The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan's public policy efforts are supported by thousands of volunteer advocates. The People Like Us Take Action Network is comprised of chronic kidney disease patients, transplant recipients, organ donors, family, friends and health professionals. If you are interested in signing up to be part of our legislative volunteer network – please complete the People Like Us Advocacy Sign-up Form or contact Lindsay Bacon or Sally Joy at 734-222-9800 for more information.
Resources for Advocacy
Click here to download the 2013 Legislative Handout. This document is a two-part tool to help educate and inform state legislators about obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease in Michigan. It both informs about the challenge of these three epidemics and calls legislators to take action to promote solutions for a healthier Michigan. This document also highlights the successes of state-funded programs for preventing obesity, diabetes and kidney disease.
For more information about the 2013 Legislative Handout, please contact Lindsay Bacon at 734-222-9800.
Michigan Legislature: legislature.mi.gov
Michigan House of Representatives: house.michigan.gov
Michigan Senate: senate.michigan.gov
Visit votesmart.org to learn who represents you in Congress (federal government in Washington D.C.) or in the Michigan Legislature (state government in Lansing).
National Kidney Foundation:
NKF public policy kidney.org/news/pubpol
NKF current national issues/legislation capwiz.com/kidney/issues/bills
Dear Legislative Volunteers,
The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) needs your help in advocating for two very important issues!
1. SAVE SNAP & SNAP-Ed in MICHIGAN!
Save SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education) in the Federal budget to keep Michigan’s nutrition program for low-income people intact! The U.S. Senate Budget Committee is considering proposals that would slash billions from our country’s nutrition programs—reducing funding that provides SNAP (food stamps) to over 47 million Americans, and completely eliminating the nutrition education program SNAP-Ed. As budget conversations continue, a proposal to slash $36 billion is expected to be the first of many misdirected attempts to balance the budget by literally taking healthy foods off of people's plates. The proposed cuts could go even higher, if we don't stand up for nutrition programs today.
Talking Points for your call:
- Please protect SNAP and SNAP-Ed from any cuts in Senate Bill (SB) 458, and in any future negotiations.
- We can’t afford to sever one of the most important safety nets for our poorest families. Cutting SNAP and SNAP Ed won’t reduce poverty, but it will take healthy foods off people’s plates.
- If SB 458 is passed, millions of eligible households would face significant reductions in critical nutrition assistance or lose nutrition benefits entirely.
- SB 458 would eliminate SNAP Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education) that works effectively to improve low-income individuals’ nutrition knowledge and skills related to stretching food budgets, making healthy food choices, and preparing nutritious meals.
- SNAP-Ed helps make SNAP work. Evaluations show that SNAP-Ed boosts the intake of fruits and vegetables.
Please make a call today to your U.S. Representative and Senator and tell them to protect SNAP and SNAP-Ed from any cuts.
2. Pass Medicaid Expansion legislation in the Michigan Legislature – it’s Critical to a Healthy and Prosperous State
Expand Medicaid to Save Michigan Money and Save Michigan Lives - Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), states can choose to voluntarily expand Medicaid health insurance to millions of adults who are uninsured today. Medicaid expansion will benefit communities and businesses enormously, will create a healthier and more competitive workforce, keep local community hospitals economically viable and save the Michigan state treasury over a billion dollars in just the first decade. The Governor is a strong supporter of Medicaid expansion and his administration has asked for citizen advocacy on this issue! Following are some talking points for your call.
With Medicaid Expansion:
- About 450,000 uninsured Michigan adults will get health insurance.
- Michigan will receive about $2 billion a year from the federal government to pay for the expansion.
- The state will save about $1 billion over a decade as the federal government will cover Medicaid services that currently must be funded by state taxpayers. These savings have been quantified and affirmed by the Republican-led state House Fiscal Agency, the Republican-led state Senate Fiscal Agency, and multiple other studies published since last summer.
In addition to saving money for the State of Michigan budget, the Medicaid expansion would:
- Save lives and improve the physical and mental health of Michigan citizens. Decades of research has demonstrated that regular access to health care treatment and services keeps people healthier. A healthier child becomes a healthier adult. A healthier adult is less likely to develop a serious, and expensive, medical issue.
- Increase access to publicly funded behavioral health services (mental health and substance use disorders) which have decreased significantly in recent years. Medicaid expansion will provide federal funding to restore services and improve access throughout the state to many of the persons now denied access or not seeking treatment.
- Protect large Michigan employers from financial penalties they will be required to pay under the ACA if their workers can’t access health insurance.
- Reduce health care costs for everyone over the long-term. Again, decades of research has demonstrated that people with access to healthcare get sick less often and cost less to treat when they need care.
- Decrease the number of people that will present for treatment at Michigan hospitals. Currently, Michigan hospitals end up providing more than $880 million a year in uncompensated care to patients unable to pay, costs that end up being shifted to people who have insurance, employers who pay for it for their workers, and taxpayers.
- Support and create thousands of good jobs in Michigan’s growing health care industry. Under the expansion, Michigan’s economy will receive about $30 billion in new federal funds between 2014 and 2023. These funds will help to support and create thousands of health care jobs for Michigan workers and college and university students.
The bottom line: The Medicaid expansion will save Michigan money, save Michigan lives, and improve the health care of all of Michigan residents.
Please make a call today to your Michigan Representative and Senator and tell them to support Medicaid Expansion in Michigan.
To locate your legislators’ contact information, please use these links:
• U.S. Representative
• U.S. Senator
• Michigan Representative
• Michigan Senator
If you need help identifying your state or federal legislators, please call for help. 800-482-1455 and ask for Lindsay Bacon or Sally Joy.
Thank you for your continued support of the NKFM and our mission to prevent kidney disease and improve quality of life for those living with it.