Ross Betts is the Director of Government Affairs at American Renal Associates.

What communities and populations do you serve?

We serve a wide range of communities in the suburbs, many of which have substantial African-American and Hispanic populations.

Why did you decide to join the Illinois Kidney Care Alliance? 

We joined IKCA to better inform communities about the potential impact of legislation on the lives of dialysis patients.

What do you hope the alliance accomplishes? 

We’re hopeful the alliance can help avoid legislation that would decrease access to services for dialysis patients.

What policy changes do those living with kidney disease need now? 

Dialysis patients need better access to coordinated care.

What can lawmakers do to help those with kidney disease? 

In the short term, lawmakers should prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for dialysis patients. In the longer term, they can make it easier for people suffering from kidney disease to get treatment.

What is something most people don’t know about dialysis/kidney disease? 

Dialysis treatment not only saves lives, but it allows people to be around others who are going through the same thing, creating a community for our patients to know they are not alone.

If you can share one story about the work you and your organization do, what would it be? 

A coworker and I prepared FAQ sheets for patients and translated them into multiple languages, which illustrates how important this work is for people across nationalities and cultures.