Florida Senate - 2009                             (NP)    SR 102
       
       
       
       By Senator Wilson
       
       
       
       
       33-00056-09                                            2009102__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing March 12, 2009, 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, 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, approximately 40 percent are African American and
   14  16 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, currently the best indication of
   28  kidney disease staging, can help prevent the progression of
   29  kidney disease to kidney failure, which requires continual
   30  dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to maintain life, and
   31         WHEREAS, the cost of treating patients who have kidney
   32  disease is disproportionately higher than the cost of treating
   33  any other chronic disease, and
   34         WHEREAS, most patients who have end-stage renal disease
   35  rely primarily on Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of
   36  their life-sustaining care, which includes dialysis treatment,
   37  medications, laboratory testing, and, as necessary,
   38  transportation services to the dialysis facility, and, as a
   39  consequence, any changes in Medicare and Medicaid eligibility
   40  will significantly put those patients at risk, NOW, THEREFORE,
   41  
   42  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   43         
   44         That March 12, 2009, is recognized as “Chronic Kidney
   45  Disease Awareness Day” in Florida in the hope that all possible
   46  support will be extended to chronic kidney disease patients in
   47  Florida, including expanding the scope of study at the Agency
   48  for Health Care Administration to include a study of early
   49  screening, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic kidney disease.