There are now 85 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives for the Medicare Dialysis Benefit Improvement Act of 2001 (HR 2220). These representatives joined in sponsoring the bill this week: Ronnie Shows (MS), Julia Carson (IN), Collin Peterson (MN), Janice Schakowsky (IL), Edolphus Towns (NY), and James Traficant, Jr (OH).

This bill will increase the Composite Rate by 2.6% for 2002; pay a full composite rate payment for a fourth routine treatment for pediatric patients, those patients over 80 kgs and cardiac patients with fluid overload; and restore the exception process. Here is the Full Coverage page for HR 2220.

September 26, 2001 - Support for HR 2220, the Medicare Dialysis Benefit Improvement Act of 2001, continues to grow. Six more House members signed on as co-sponsors yesterday, bringing the total to 75.

September 25, 2001 - HR 2220, the Medicare Dialysis Benefit Improvement Act of 2001, is gaining momentum. Yesterday, seven more House members joined as co-sponsors, bring the total now to 69 co-sponsors.

September 24, 2001 - Proposed legislation HR 2220, the Medicare Dialysis Benefit Improvement Act of 2001, now has 62 cosponsors.

More information on the changing priorities for Congress in light of the terrorists' attacks this month:

Today's issue of the American Medical News has an article entitled, "On Capitol Hill, health care bills fall back".

September 18, 2001 - "Despite New Focus on Anti-Terrorism, Disaster Relief Efforts, Congress May 'Tackle' Some Health Issues" - report from Kaiser Network.

Christin Tinsworth, a spokesperson for the House Ways and Means Committee, said, "Anything that's going to move with any speed has to be bipartisan."

In other news, the American Hospital Association has cancelled its Sept. 20 and 25 advocacy days. (link is no longer available)

September 17, 2001 - Here are articles that appeared today that comment on healthcare priorities for Congress:

"Priorities change in dramatic way: Defense, antiterror policies to replace Congress' healthcare agenda, observers say" - article from Modern Healthcare (link is no longer available)

"Norwood Says He Will Continue Patients' Rights Push, But Most Say National Security Will Trump Domestic Issues" - report from the Kaiser Network

"As After Pearl Harbor, Terrorist Attacks Likely to Slow Health Policy Legislation, CQ's Goldreich Says" - opinion piece from Kaiser Network

September 14, 2001 - With this week's terrorist attacks, it appears that the major healthcare legislative issues, such as patients' rights and a Medicare drug benefit, are now "among items now headed for the back burner", according to this report from the Kaiser Network.

This may allow the congressional committees to focus on small, special-interest issues such as dialysis legislation. RenalWEB's Legislation Watch page has a list of dialysis-related federal legislation that has been introduced during this term of Congress.