FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Dialysis patients are rallying in Fresno.
Around 40 dialysis patients and allies will be at the San Joaquin Valley Dialysis Center at 11:00a.m. Thursday morning to support the Dialysis Patient Safety Act.
“Patients in Fresno are very concerned about care they are receiving at dialysis clinics, and feel that legislation in Sacramento needs to be passed if they are going to have their care improved and their lives strengthened.” – Sean Wherley, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.
66,000 Californians have kidney failure. SB 349 seeks to improve care, safety and staffing at 570 dialysis clinics in California, including 12 in Fresno County.
Sean Wherley, from SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, says dialysis corporations oppose the legislation, saying it is too expensive.
“The two largest dialysis corporations made almost $4 billion dollars in profits last year from their dialysis operations in the U.S. They have the money to do this now they just need the will to put their patients before profits.” – Sean Wherley.
SB 349 passed the California Senate in May, it now awaits a floor vote in the Assembly by September 15th.
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
