May 2026 CKD Insider Newsletter
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- 5 min read
Welcome to the Chronic Kidney Disease Insider Newsletter. If you are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis, have had a kidney transplant or are helping care for someone who is, this newsletter was created for you! The CKD Insider Newsletter provides actionable information for you and your family to help you manage your health in consultation with your doctor.
In this month’s CKD Insider:
Latest News from Kidney Organizations
AAKP National Itch Day (June 3rd) Campaign
The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) campaign aims to raise awareness and provide education about a condition that affects so many kidney patients. Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) is a moderate-to-severe itching associated with kidney disease and affects about half of kidney patients. In 2021, the first-ever treatment for CKD-aP was approved by the FDA, called KORSUVA™ (Difelikefalin).
If you or a loved one has CKD-aP or started feeling itchy, you can learn more about the symptoms, causes, and management of CKD-aP, the AAKP has put together educational materials.
RSN Annual Essay Contest Theme Announced. Essays due August 10th
The theme of the 24th Annual Renal Support Network (RNS) essay contest is “Treatment Choice Experience: What worked, what didn’t and where are you now?” Essays are due August 10th and the top three essays will receive a monetary prize. To learn more about the contest submission process or read previous year winners, check out https://www.rsnhope.org/essay-contest/.
Your Fun Tip of the Day
Explore Something New This Spring
As the weather warms up and flowers bloom, this is the perfect time to add a little adventure to your routine.
Attend an outdoor concert at a local park
Check out local greek or seafood festivals
Volunteer for a cause you care about, such as a food pantry, community garden, animal shelter, or science museum for children
Take advantage of free museum hours. Many
museums offer free admission on select days or evenings, making it easy to enjoy art, history, and culture without spending much money.
Explore outdoor music options during dialysis
Live Music concert ideas:
NPR Tiny Desk Concertshttps://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts
PBS Great Performanceshttps://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/
The Metropolitan Opera Free Streaming Contenthttps://www.metopera.org
Live performances and music festivals on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com
Tour museums from around the world right from your phone or tablet during dialysis
The Louvre (Paris, France)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)
Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam)
Smithsonian Museums (Washington, D.C.)
Virtual Exhibits and Collections:Smithsonian Online Exhibitions
The British Museum (London)
Explore the Collection:British Museum Collection Online
NASA Virtual Tours
Tour NASA facilities and view amazing images from space:NASA Virtual Tours
Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams
Watch sea otters, jellyfish, penguins, and more in real time:Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams
Podcasts to support you on your CKD journey
There is a wide range of podcasts related to kidney disease, from new research and hot topics to patient experiences and day-to-day tips. Check out one of these podcasts that might interest you:
The Kidney Collective. The Kidney Collective, from the American Kidney Fund, features “voices representing every aspect of the kidney journey, including people living with kidney failure, living kidney donors, patient advocates, health care professionals and other leaders in the field.” This podcast is designed to inform and inspire individuals at every stage of the kidney disease journey, across all roles.
Hot Topics in Kidney Disease. This podcast from the National Kidney Foundation can be found on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, covers new and hot topics in kidney disease care, and answers patient-submitted questions
Kidney Talk. Kidney Talk from the Renal Support Network aims to be a “companion in navigating the challenges of chronic kidney disease.” It is hosted by Lori Hartwell, who has been navigating kidney disease since childhood.
Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast. Diary of a Kidney Warrior Podcast shares real patient stories, expert insights, and practical information about living with chronic kidney disease, featuring conversations among patients, clinicians, and specialists hosted by advocate Dee Moore.
Kidney Transplant Conversations. For transplant recipients or those awaiting transplantation, living donors, caregivers, and patient advocates, Kidney Transplant Conversations provides an opportunity to hear patient experiences, insight, and guidance for navigating transplantation.
Advocacy Updates:
NKF Launches the Kidney Professionals Advocacy Committee (KPAC)
At the 2026 Spring Clinical Meetings in New Orleans, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Government Relations team connected with over 3,000 kidney care professionals to highlight the growing role of healthcare providers in shaping kidney health policy in the United States. At this meeting, the NKF launched the Kidney Professionals Advocacy Committee (KPAC), which provides tools and connects kidney healthcare professionals in advocacy efforts at the federal and state levels.
2026 Legislation Protections for Kidney Care
There were a number of new bills that have passed this year, providing greater protections for kidney disease patients and organ donors, including:
Colorado Passed HB 26-1019, Requiring Insurance Carriers to Cover Kidney Function Screening. The act mandates that insurance carriers cover kidney function screenings, with phased implementation starting in 2027 for large employers and in 2028 for individual and small-group plans.
Tennessee Passed SB 0579 to Strengthen Protections for Living Donors. The bill grants state employees the right to 12 weeks of leave to recover from a living organ donation and treats the leave as full-time employment for service anniversary purposes.
Alabama Passed HB 361, Strengthening Protections for Living Donors. The bill prohibits insurance providers from discriminating against living organ donors and offers private employers a tax credit for providing paid leave to organ donors.
South Dakota Passed HB 1101, Strengthening Protections for Living Donors. The bill prevents insurers from denying coverage to living organ donors or raising premiums.
Expansion of Medicaid Saved Lives of Young People with Kidney Disease
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics showed that Medicaid expansion saved the lives of young adults initiating dialysis. As Medicaid coverage increased, the mortality rate decreased, and improvements in predialysis care, longer hemodialysis session lengths, and higher rates of peritoneal dialysis use were observed.
Why Advocacy Matters:
In 2026, we have already seen new state protections for living donors and coverage for kidney screening. In recent years, we’ve seen ongoing modernization of the transplant system (OPTN) and the Kidney Care Choices (KCC) model, expanding care options for those on Medicare. These advances are thanks to efforts from kidney patients and their care teams. Research shows that these policy changes save lives and improve health outcomes. Yet key legislative protections remain unpassed, and it will require all of our efforts to move them forward. Presently, the Living Donor Protection Act would provide protections for living organ donors, including prohibiting insurance discrimination against donors and protecting job leave eligibility under the FMLA. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get involved in advocacy, check out the NKF’s Voices for Kidney Health or the AAKP’s Kidney Voter Action Center.
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