| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution recognizing March 13, 2007, as "Chronic |
| 3 | Kidney Disease Awareness Day" in Florida. |
| 4 |
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| 5 | WHEREAS, more than 20 million Americans, about one in nine |
| 6 | adults, suffer from a form of chronic kidney disease and, of |
| 7 | these, more than 8 million have significantly reduced kidney |
| 8 | function that, if left untreated, may progress to the more |
| 9 | severe stage of chronic kidney disease known as end-stage renal |
| 10 | disease, and |
| 11 | WHEREAS, chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease |
| 12 | affect approximately 400,000 Americans of which nearly 19,000 |
| 13 | are Floridians, and |
| 14 | WHEREAS, the only treatment options for patients suffering |
| 15 | from end-stage renal disease are kidney transplantation and |
| 16 | dialysis and, because kidney transplantation is limited due to |
| 17 | the severe shortage of donor organs, most end-stage renal |
| 18 | disease patients require 4-hour dialysis treatment three times |
| 19 | per week, and |
| 20 | WHEREAS, end-stage renal disease patients also suffer from |
| 21 | multiple co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, |
| 22 | heart disease, anemia, bone disease, and malnutrition and |
| 23 | therefore require a regimen of medication therapy, dietary |
| 24 | restrictions, and laboratory testing provided at their primary |
| 25 | point of care, a dialysis facility, in order to maintain their |
| 26 | lives, and |
| 27 | WHEREAS, the multidisciplinary care provided at a dialysis |
| 28 | facility to patients suffering from end-stage renal disease has |
| 29 | resulted in significant improvements in patient outcomes and has |
| 30 | enhanced the quality of life for this patient population, and |
| 31 | WHEREAS, most end-stage renal disease patients rely |
| 32 | primarily on Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of their |
| 33 | life-sustaining care, which includes dialysis treatment, |
| 34 | medications, laboratory testing, and, as necessary, |
| 35 | transportation services to a dialysis facility, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 36 |
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| 37 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 38 | Florida: |
| 39 |
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| 40 | That March 13, 2007, is recognized as "Chronic Kidney |
| 41 | Disease Awareness Day" in Florida in the hope that all possible |
| 42 | support will continue to be extended to end-stage renal disease |
| 43 | patients in Florida, the country, and the world. |