I was born with kidney failure. I started dialysis at 14, received a transplant at 16, and after 13 years, I’m back on dialysis again.
Living with kidney disease my entire life has taught me one thing: access to the right treatment at the right time makes all the difference. Yet too many dialysis patients, especially young people, face constant barriers to innovative therapies. Whether it’s treatments for anemia, infection prevention, or medications to reduce phosphorus, insurance systems fail to keep up with medical advancements. When that happens, patients pay the price with their health.
As a patient and someone who has worked in the dialysis field as a technician, educator, and patient consultant, I’ve seen it firsthand. Young people on dialysis often don’t even know what coverage they’re entitled to, let alone how to fight for access to newer, better treatments.
That’s why I urge Representative Julia Brownley and Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff to support the Kidney Care Access Protection Act. This bipartisan legislation would help modernize payment systems, ensure patients can access the treatments they need, and support clinics that provide lifesaving care.
Dialysis is not the end of life. It’s a continuation of it. Patients need access to care to keep going and live the life they want.
Cameron Lillie-Liberto, Oxnard, California
