WHEREAS, more than 20 million Americans, about one in nine adults, suffer from a form of chronic kidney disease and, of these, more than 8 million have significantly reduced kidney function that, if left untreated, may progress to the more severe stage of chronic kidney disease, known as end-stage renal disease; and

WHEREAS, chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease affect approximately 400,000 Americans; and

WHEREAS, one in seven adults in Hawaii have kidney disease which is 30 percent higher than the national average and those of native Hawaiian, Japanese, and Filipino ancestry are most at risk; and

WHEREAS, the only treatment options for end-stage renal disease patients is kidney transplantation or dialysis; and

WHEREAS, kidney transplantation is limited by the severe shortage of donor organs and most end-stage renal disease patients require 4-hour dialysis treatment three times per week; and

WHEREAS, end-stage renal disease patients also suffer from multiple co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, anemia, bone disease, and malnutrition, and therefore require a regime of medication therapy, dietary restrictions, and laboratory testing provided at their primary point of care, the dialysis facility, to prolong their lives; and

WHEREAS, the multidisciplinary care provided at the dialysis facility to patients having end-stage renal disease has resulted in significant improvements in patient outcomes and has enhanced the quality of life for this patient population; and

WHEREAS, most end-stage renal disease patients rely primarily on Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of their life-sustaining care, which includes dialysis treatment, medications, laboratory testing, and as necessary, transportation services to the dialysis facility, and, as a consequence, any changes in Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, coverage, or benefits place this vulnerable patient population significantly at risk; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that March is recognized as "Chronic Kidney Disease

Awareness Month" in Hawaii in the hope that all possible support will continue to be extended to end-stage renal disease patients in Hawaii and throughout the country and world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Governor of the State of Hawaii, and Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness Month; March