Florida Senate - 2010                            (NP)    SR 1116
       
       
       
       By Senator Wilson
       
       
       
       
       33-01095-10                                           20101116__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing March 11, 2010, as “Chronic
    3         Kidney Disease Awareness Day.”
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, healthy kidneys are essential for regulating water
    6  and other chemicals in human blood; removing fluids, waste,
    7  toxins, and drugs introduced into the body; releasing hormones
    8  that regulate blood pressure; making red blood cells; and
    9  promoting strong bones, and
   10         WHEREAS, more than 1.8 million Floridians, or approximately
   11  one in nine adults, suffer from chronic kidney disease, and
   12         WHEREAS, of the 19,000 Floridians afflicted with end-stage
   13  renal disease, about 40 percent are African American and 16
   14  percent are Hispanic, and
   15         WHEREAS, the two main causes of chronic kidney disease are
   16  diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for up
   17  to two-thirds of the cases, and
   18         WHEREAS, the National Kidney Foundation of Florida has a
   19  health-screening program to identify people early who are at
   20  risk of having kidney disease, and
   21         WHEREAS, the mission of the National Kidney Foundation of
   22  Florida is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve
   23  the health and well-being of individuals and families affected
   24  by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs
   25  for transplantation, and
   26         WHEREAS, early detection, including regular reporting of
   27  the glomerular filtration rate, which is currently the best
   28  indication of kidney disease staging, can help prevent the
   29  progression of kidney disease to kidney failure, which requires
   30  continual dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to maintain
   31  life, and
   32         WHEREAS, the cost of treating patients who have kidney
   33  disease is disproportionately higher than the cost of treating
   34  any other chronic disease, and
   35         WHEREAS, most patients who have end-stage renal disease
   36  rely primarily on Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of
   37  their life-sustaining care, which includes dialysis treatment,
   38  medications, laboratory testing, and, as necessary,
   39  transportation services to the dialysis facility, and, as a
   40  consequence, any changes in Medicare and Medicaid eligibility
   41  will significantly put those patients at risk, NOW, THEREFORE,
   42  
   43  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   44  
   45         That March 11, 2010, is recognized as “Chronic Kidney
   46  Disease Awareness Day” in Florida in the hope that all possible
   47  support will be extended to chronic kidney disease patients,
   48  including expanding the scope of study at the Agency for Health
   49  Care Administration to include a study of early screening,
   50  diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease.