06.24.2019

MHA Seeks to Protect New Federal Liver Procurement Policy

The Department of Health and Human Services announced late last year that the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network and United Network for Organ Sharing (OPTN/UNOS) had approved a new liver distribution policy to establish greater consistency in the geographic areas used to match transplant candidates with available deceased donors. However, the new policy was threatened earlier this week when U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) proposed an amendment to the House “minibus” spending bill which would have withheld funding to implement the new liver guidance. MHA joined the New England donor network in urging the Massachusetts delegation to oppose the amendment. Alexandra Glazier, president and CEO of the New England Donor Services, spoke for many New England healthcare stakeholders in her letter to Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.), stating “the new organ distribution policy put the interest of patients first and better balances the ethical principles of equity, utility and autonomy in a way that maximizes these life-giving organ donations within the context of a just and fair system.” The amendment was ruled out of order during the Rules Committee consideration. McGovern chairs the Rules Committee.