Tom Reed met with staff and patients at the DaVita Dialysis Center in Ithaca Wednesday, a leading provider of dialysis services that treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. Among the topics discussed was the Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2014, which would include dialysis as a service provided by the National Health Service Corps in shortage areas and revise Medicare payments for dialysis services for patients with end stage renal disease and acute kidney injury.

"We care for patients faced with the challenges of living with kidney disease," Reed said. "Quality care and access to care are important in ensuring that patients have access to the best possible treatments. We must care about patients in a fair and responsible way to deal with their ailments and diseases."

"Representative Tom Reed's visit to DaVita Kidney Care Ithaca Dialysis Center was a great opportunity to help our congressman better understand kidney disease and the impact it has on patients' daily lives," said Catherine Lama, facility administrator at DaVita Kidney Care. "Ensuring that those suffering from kidney disease have access to care is particularly important because early detection and treatment may prevent kidney disease from progressing to kidney failure. We thank the congressman for his time and commitment to understanding this need in our community."

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