Kidney transplant coverage in health bill

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. healthcare reform proposals include a provision ending a 36-month limit on Medicare payments for kidney transplant anti-rejection drugs, analysts say.

The move to drop the limit is included in a version of the reform bill passed by the House of Representatives, but it is unclear if it will also be in the Senate version, The New York Times reported Monday.

The newspaper said federal law currently limits Medicare reimbursement for the expensive anti-rejection drugs, which cost from $1,000 to $3,000 per month. Fears of being unable to pay for the drugs has led some dialysis patients to forgo putting themselves on transplant lists, officials with the National Kidney Foundation say.

Previous attempts in Congress to lift the 36-month limit have never made it to a vote. The Times said lawmakers have been concerned about the costs: the Congressional Budget Office has estimated unlimited coverage for anti-rejection drugs would add $100 million per year to the $23 billion that Medicare already pays for its kidney program.