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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing March 13, 2008, as "Chronic

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Kidney Disease Awareness Day."

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     WHEREAS, healthy kidneys are essential to regulate the body

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by water and other chemicals in your blood, remove fluids, waste,

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toxins, and drugs introduced to the body, release hormones that

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regulate blood pressure, make red blood cells, and promote strong

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bones, and

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     WHEREAS, more than 1.8 million Floridians, about one in nine

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adults, suffer from chronic kidney disease, and

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     WHEREAS, of the 19,000 Floridians afflicted with end-stage

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renal disease, approximately 40 percent are African-American and

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16 percent are Hispanic, and

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     WHEREAS, the two main causes of chronic kidney disease are

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diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for up to

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two-thirds of the cases, and

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     WHEREAS, the National Kidney Foundation of Florida has a

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health-screening program to identify people early for kidney

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disease, and

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     WHEREAS, the mission of the National Kidney Foundation of

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Florida is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve

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the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by

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these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for

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transplantation, and

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     WHEREAS, early detection including regular reporting of the

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glomerular filtration rate, currently the best indication of

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kidney disease staging, can help prevent the progression of

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kidney disease to kidney failure, which requires continual

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dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to maintain life, and

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     WHEREAS, the cost of treatment for kidney disease patients

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is disproportionately higher than that for any other chronic

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disease, and

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     WHEREAS, most patients who have end-stage renal disease rely

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primarily on Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of their

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life-sustaining care, which includes dialysis treatment,

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medications, laboratory testing, and, as necessary,

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transportation services to the dialysis facility, and, as a

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consequence, any changes in Medicare and Medicaid eligibility,

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will significantly put them at risk, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That March 13, 2008, is recognized as "Chronic Kidney

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Disease Awareness Day" in Florida in the hope that all possible

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support will be extended to chronic kidney disease patients in

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Florida, including expanding the scope of study at the Agency for

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Health Care Administration to include a study of early screening,

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diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease.