Florida Legislature Unanimously Supports 'The Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act'...

Florida Legislature Unanimously Supports 'The Alonzo Mourning Access to Care
Act' to Help State's Kidney Failure Patients and the Disabled

Governor Expected to Sign Legislation to Provide Access to Medigap Secondary
Insurance for Florida's Most Vulnerable Patients Next Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following unanimous
support in the Florida House this week, the Florida Senate today also voted
unanimously for the bill renamed "The Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act" that
will help a special population of Florida's kidney failure patients and the
disabled access the care they need.

Late last week, the legislature voted to rename the legislation in honor of
Alonzo Mourning, who is also a kidney transplant recipient and a leading
advocate for those suffering from kidney disease and kidney failure. The
legislation will give Florida residents under the age of 65 who suffer from
end stage renal disease (ESRD) and those deemed disabled access to Medigap
coverage assistance, which would provide them with access to needed medical
treatments, including kidney transplant, without cost being a barrier - and
without having to "spend down" their income to become eligible for state
Medicaid assistance, in many cases the only option for this population.

Mourning said, "This bill will ensure that kidney failure patients do not have
to choose between life-saving medical care and their daily living expenses. I
applaud the Florida legislature for making the right decision that ensures
that this vulnerable population can access the care they need such as dialysis
services, transplantation and prescription medications."

Two populations qualify for Medicare coverage: individuals over age 65, and
those under 65 who meet certain conditions, including the diagnosis of ESRD.
While Medicare covers most medical costs, it requires patients to pay
deductibles and co-pays. Most patients have secondary insurance to help with
these costs. However, approximately 2,000 kidney failure patients and many
thousands more who are disabled in Florida under age 65 have no secondary
insurance coverage, and cannot afford their deductibles and co-pays. As a
result, they often experience delays and roadblocks for critical medical
services because of the required upfront payments, and are forced to turn to
the state's Medicaid program for support - impoverishing themselves and often
their families to qualify.

Under federal law, all Medicare beneficiaries over age 65 are already able to
purchase this insurance as secondary coverage, and Mourning is advocating for
this same option to be extended to kidney patients and the disabled under age
65. With the Senate passage of this bill, it is poised for signing into law by
Governor Charlie Crist.

Stephanie Hutchinson, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Florida, who
accompanied Mourning in advocating for the bill last month and has been an
ardent supporter of the legislation, said, "Alonzo Mourning has given a voice
to a population that was falling through the system's cracks. Thousands of
Florida residents will live longer, more productive lives thanks to this
legislation and Alonzo Mourning."

Mourning has been a leading national advocate for kidney disease patients and
has personally led a campaign to raise $2 million to aid in the research,
education and financial relief to patients who cannot afford medication with
his foundation "Zo's Fund for Life."

Mourning topped the Miami Heat's all-time lists in points scored (9,459),
minutes played (17,700), free throws attempted (3,896), offensive rebounds
(1,505), defensive rebounds (3,302), total rebounds (4,807), blocked shots
(1,625) and double-figure scoring efforts (442). He achieved an NBA
championship with the Heat in 2006, was twice named NBA Defensive Player of
the Year and won a gold medal on the U.S. Men's Senior National Team at the
2000 Olympics. After receiving his kidney transplant in December 2003,
Mourning returned to the NBA for five more seasons, retiring in 2008.

SOURCE National Kidney Foundation of Florida

Stephanie Hutchinson, NKF-FL, +1-407-247-1504 or Alisann Fatemi,
+1-703-887-1493, for National Kidney Foundation of Florida