April 16, 2025
Right now, 1 in 7 U.S. adults has kidney disease, but 90% don't know it. National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is stepping up its advocacy efforts to change that by engaging with federal leaders to push for stronger policies and initiatives that improve kidney care and outcomes for those affected.
NKF Collaborates with MAHA Commission and Congress
On February 13, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new plans to address the nation’s chronic disease crisis through the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission.
The Administration emphasized that “Americans of all ages are becoming sicker, beset by illnesses that our medical system is not addressing effectively.”
In response, NKF’s Government Relations team informed members of the House of Representatives' Make America Healthy Again Caucus about our commitment to collaborate with Congress, HHS, and the MAHA Commission to advance kidney health.
NKF’s Letter to HHS: Key Priorities
In March 2025, NKF CEO Kevin Longino and President Dr. Kirk Campbell wrote to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expressing NKF’s support for the Administration’s focus on chronic disease. NKF leadership also emphasized the importance of continuing the 2019 Advancing American Kidney Health Executive Order and working together to help more people prevent kidney disease.
The letter outlined several advocacy priorities:
- Transform kidney care to better support people with kidney disease, their families, and communities.
- Promote early diagnosis, so patients have the best chance of staying healthy.
- Encourage state and local governments to adopt proven strategies to improve CKD outcomes.
- Raise awareness about risk factors for CKD and the importance of prevention.
“We must diagnose people early and empower them to achieve their health goals through access to every possible intervention, especially proven lifestyle interventions, to slow or stop CKD progression. State and local governments know their populations best and should be better leveraged through support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to adopt proven, innovative strategies to improve CKD population health.”
These priorities were also shared with members of the Make America Healthy Again Caucus to strengthen collaboration across government. By working together, we can shift from only treating disease to focusing on health and prevention.
Why Advocacy Matters
Advocacy is how we turn passion into policy. At NKF, our Voices for Kidney Health advocates speak up to protect living donors, expand access to care, and support better treatments for kidney disease.
Take action with Voices for Kidney Health today to help us create a healthier future for everyone affected by kidney disease.
✅ Top 3 Takeaways
✅ Top 3 Takeaways
NKF is connecting with Congress, HHS, and the MAHA Commission to improve kidney health policy.
NKF is advocating for better kidney disease prevention and care.
Anyone can join Voices for Kidney Health to help turn kidney health priorities into policy.
