119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9509
The Kidney Disease Education Access Expansion Act of 2026 expands Medicare and private insurance coverage for kidney disease education services starting January 1, 2027. The bill broadens eligibility to include individuals with hypertension, diabetes, any stage of chronic kidney disease, or risk factors for kidney disease, rather than limiting coverage to only advanced cases. It allows a wider range of health professionals to provide these services, including physician assistants, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and community health workers, and permits education to be delivered in group settings and via telehealth. The legislation increases the number of covered education sessions beyond the current limit of six and expands the topics covered to include transplant support and caregiver training. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a working group to develop effectiveness measurements for kidney disease education and implement a comprehensive assessment framework within two years, while also requiring private health insurance plans to cover these services with no cost-sharing for patients.