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Resolution
Daily Dialysis Act
WHEREAS, the League of United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s
oldest and largest Latino organization, founded
in Corpus Christi Texas on February 24, 1929;
and
WHEREAS, LULAC
was founded on the principles of justice and
equality for all and for protection of the
Latinos; and
WHEREAS, LULAC
has fought continuously for healthcare for the
Latinos; and
WHEREAS, the
prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is 2 times higher
in Latinos than non-Latino whites; and
WHEREAS, 1.2
million or 10.6 percent of all Mexican Americans
have diabetes; and
WHEREAS,
approximately 24 percent of Mexican Americans,
26 percent of Puerto Ricans and 16 percent of
Cuban Americans in the United States between the
ages of 45-74 have diabetes; and
WHEREAS,
diabetes is the leading cause of End Stage Renal
Disease (kidney failure), accounting for 43% of
new cases, and among people with diabetes,
Mexican Americans are 4.5 to 6.6 times more
likely to suffer from end stage renal disease;
and
WHEREAS, more
than 300,000 Americans live and struggle with
end stage renal disease, with approximately 10%
or 30,000 living in the state of Texas; and
WHEREAS, it is
estimated that the total number of end stage
renal disease patients in the U.S. will reach
600,000 by the year 2010; and
WHEREAS,
patients with end stage renal disease must
receive renal replacement therapy in the form of
dialysis; and
WHEREAS, end
stage renal disease Medicare expenditures have
increased from $5.7 billion in 1991, $8.1
billion in 1995, and approximately $17 billion
in 2002; and
WHEREAS, the
traditionally accepted form of treatment for end
stage renal disease patients consists of 3
hemodialysis treatments per week; and
WHEREAS,
medication costs, increased health care
utilization, poor quality of life and decreased
mobility are all associated factors of the
traditional 3 day hemodialysis modality; and
WHEREAS,
research conducted at the University Health
System, Texas Diabetes Institute’s Dialysis West
Renal Clinic has demonstrated that daily
dialysis treatments improve patients’ quality of
life, reduce hospitalizations, and associated
pharmaceutical costs; and
WHEREAS, the
medical status of daily dialysis patients’ in
comparison to patients receiving the traditional
3 day hemodilysis modality are improved as they
pertain to hypertension, diabetes and anemia;
and
WHEREAS, the
Mexican American Caucus of the U.S. House of
Representatives has endorsed the Daily Dialysis
Act;
NOW
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that
the League of United Latin American Citizens at
its Annual National Convention held in San
Antonio, Texas on this 10th day of July 2004,
endorses the Daily Dialysis Act and calls upon
the President, the Congress of the United
States, and the Secretary of Health and Human
Services to work together and change the
Medicare Law to assist in the improvement of the
health and quality of life of our Latino
community and individuals afflicted with End
Stage Renal Disease.
Submitted by Council 4625 of
San Antonio, Texas, Luis R. Vera, Jr.,
President.
Adopted this 10th day of July
2004.
Hector M. Flores
LULAC National President |
