How NKF Got Here: Kidney Care in the 1970s

^{American comedian and satirist Patrick Layton Paulsen speaking about NKF's "Life…Pass It On" Campaign.}

“How NKF Got Here" is a series highlighting NKF’s most significant achievements over the decades. Explore the full collection of articles here.

The 1970s gave us bell-bottom jeans, disco, and tie-dye. It was also a transformative decade for kidney care that saw life-saving changes like Medicare coverage for dialysis and transplants. National Kidney Foundation was there through it all, advocating for patients and pushing organ donation awareness.

Let’s take a look at how the 1970s shaped the future of kidney health.

^{Image of NKF's donor cards.}

• 1970: The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) was approved in all but one state. Since organ donor cards were now legally recognized documents, NKF worked to spread the word. They distributed over 214 million donor cards through pharmacies, mail, and community outreach programs to encourage more people to donate their organs after death.
• 1972: As a result of NKF’s nationwide efforts, Medicare laws changed to cover all people with kidney failure. This made the U.S. the first country to offer universal dialysis and kidney transplant coverage regardless of income or age.
• 1973–76: NKF strengthened its commitment to the professional kidney care community by launching three professional councils. The Nephrology Social Workers, Renal Nutritionists, and Nephrology Nurses and Technicians Councils provided education and support to healthcare professionals caring for patients.

^{Cover of NKF's 1973 Annual Report}

• 1973: NKF created the first mobile dialysis unit, bringing life-saving dialysis treatments to rural areas with limited access.
• 1975: NKF celebrated its 25th anniversary. During this time, NKF operated blood banks, organ recovery programs, health screenings, and more.
• 1976: NKF began sending young dialysis patients to specialized summer camps. Today, NKF hosts Camp ChiMer, a yearly summer camp for children on dialysis or with a kidney transplant.

• 1976: The first Medicare dialysis regulations were finalized, removing unnecessary restrictions to improve patient care.
• 1977: NKF launched the “Life…Pass It On” public information campaign. Celebrities Pat Paulson, Polly Bergen, Peggy Fleming, Dick Van Dyke, Judy Collins, Brenda Lee, Melissa Gilbert, Max Morath, Mickey Gilley, Red Sovien, Willis Reed, and Bob Lanier joined to spread the word about deceased organ donation.
• 1978: Cyclosporine, a new anti-rejection medication, was introduced to the market. It helped lower transplant rejection rates and is still used today.
• 1978: The Scientific Advisory Board was created to secure more funding for kidney and urinary tract disease research. This group, which included NKF and several other medical organizations, successfully convinced the government to allocate about $5.7 million for research funding.
• 1979: Actor Gary Coleman, a kidney transplant recipient, became NKF’s first Honorary Gift of Life Chairman, starring in six public service announcements promoting organ donation.

1979: New legislation was passed to increase awareness of organ transplantation and home dialysis. It also extended Medicare coverage for kidney transplant recipients to three years post-transplant. This set the stage for improved long-term care for transplant patients.

By the end of the 1970s, NKF had helped transform kidney care. Medicare made dialysis and transplants more accessible, research funding expanded, and public awareness of organ donation grew. These milestones set the stage for modern kidney care, saving countless lives.