Florida Governor Targets Kidney Disease

Governor Crist Signs Legislation to Increase Access to Health Care for Floridians with Kidney Disease; Allows Medicare beneficiaries to purchase plans starting October 1, 2009

June 10, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today signed the Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act which expands the availability of Medicare supplemental policies to Medicare beneficiaries with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). House Bill 675, relating to Medicare Supplement Policies, makes Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD eligible to receive supplemental coverage known as Medigap policies.

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Representative Ritch Workman and Senator Thad Altman sponsored this legislation. Alonzo Mourning and leadership of the National Kidney Foundation of Florida and the Florida Renal Coalition were alongside the Governor during the signing ceremony held at DaVita Tallahassee Dialysis Center.

“Today we take another significant step in ensuring access to health care for Floridians,” said Governor Crist. “This bill gives Floridians with end stage renal disease the options they deserve. I am grateful to Alonzo Mourning for his advocacy on this important issue, and I am confident this is another great milestone in our efforts to ensure access to quality health care for all.”

Prior to this legislation, Florida law only guaranteed Medicare supplemental policies to Medicare beneficiaries over age 65 enrolled in Medicare. This change in policy will potentially make 11,050 Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD eligible to purchase supplemental coverage policies. Currently, an estimated 2,000 of these beneficiaries do not have secondary insurance. Florida joins 28 states who currently offer Medigap policies for beneficiaries under age 65 with ESRD. In addition, eligible Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities under age 65 will also qualify to purchase Medigap policies.

Mourning added, “Speaking for Florida’s kidney patients, dedicated kidney care advocates, supportive legislators and others who have worked tirelessly to ensure that patients in our state have full access to quality kidney care, I am delighted to see Governor Crist show his support by signing this important measure into law. I know from first-hand experience how important it is to have adequate coverage for life-saving medical treatments, and I am proud to have been able to help advocate for this same access to care for kidney failure patients across Florida.”

Governor Crist was also joined by Stephanie Hutchinson, CEO of National Kidney Foundation of Florida; Bob Loeper, Chairman of the Florida Renal Coalition; Senator Thad Altman and Representative Ritch Workman.

Stephanie Hutchinson remarked, “We commend Governor Crist for recognizing the importance of improving access to care for this particularly vulnerable patient population, and for taking the time out of his schedule to meet with patients, their families and caregivers providing quality care to area ESRD patients today.”

“We are truly inspired by the strong statewide support that has led to the enactment of this important legislation, which will help hundreds of Florida’s kidney failure patients under age 65 access the care they critically need,” said Bob Loeper. “When the Florida Renal Coalition initiated the push for expanded access to Medigap coverage more than two years ago, we knew that changing state policy would be a challenge – but thanks to the leadership of Alonzo Mourning, a united kidney community, our legislature and our Governor, we are pleased to see the goal of improved access to care become a reality today.”

Alonzo Mourning is a former Miami Heat player, NBA Defensive Player of the Year and philanthropist. Mourning was diagnosis in 2000 with degenerative kidney disease and kidney failure and received a life saving kidney transplant in 2003. He became an advocate for health care following his experience. In 2007, Mourning organized the “Donate Organs Pass It on Campaign” promoting a specialty license plate designed to support organ and tissue donor awareness. He also assisted in raising money to sponsor the liver transplant of three-year-old Omar Ferguson, a native of the Bahamas, which saved the child’s life. In March, Mourning visited with Governor Crist to discuss the need for House Bill 675. In April, the Governor recognized Mourning with the Points of Light Award for Fitness/Nutrition Awareness Month.

To shop for Medicare supplement rates statewide please visit www.floir.com, and click on the “Consumer” menu tab, and select “Search for Medicare Supplement Sample Rates.” This feature allows consumers to customize their policy and compare rates from all available policy carriers within their area.

Source: Florida Governor