Washington – September 20, 2026 -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) has endorsed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new appointments to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), following a years-long campaign by the group to force reforms on kidney disease screening policy. AAKP President Edward V. Hickey III said the appointees bring the diverse credentials needed to advance patient-centered medicine after what the organization calls two decades of Task Force inaction on kidney health.
Kidney disease burden affects 37 million Americans, AAKP says
AAKP cites data showing kidney disease impacts more than 37 million Americans and their families, while interrelated cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases affect over 25% of the adult population and rank among the leading causes of death. The American Heart Association estimates roughly 90% of U.S. adults, or approximately 240 million people, carry some degree of interconnected cardiovascular, kidney, or metabolic health conditions.
AAKP Vice President Paul T. Conway calls prior Task Force record 'complete incompetence'
AAKP Vice President and Chair of Policy and Global Affairs Paul T. Conway, a 49-year kidney patient and 29-year transplant recipient, said the new appointees include experts in early disease detection, Native American and rural health, and AI-driven care management for chronic heart, kidney, and metabolic conditions. Conway said the previous USPSTF record on kidney disease prevention over the past 20 years amounted to "complete incompetence,