Newswise — Washington, DC (Sunday, March 24)—Delivering on its commitment to increase Americans’ access to kidney transplant by improving the transparency and efficiency of our nation’s transplant network, Congress this week approved a much-needed $23 million federal funding increase in fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the agency responsible for overseeing the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). This funding follows significant reforms passed by Congress in 2023 by means of the Securing the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Act, which are being implemented by HRSA through the OPTN Modernization Initiative.
“I thank and commend the bipartisan, bicameral efforts to secure this critical funding increase—particularly the leadership of Chair Robert Aderholt, Chair Kay Granger, and Ranking Member Laura DeLauro, as well as Chair Tammy Baldwin, Chair Patty Murray, and Ranking Member Susan Collins,” said Deidra C. Crews, MD, ScM, FASN, President, American Society of Nephrology (ASN). “Their commitment to investing in a transplant system that is better equipped to serve patients means more Americans will have access to the best form of therapy for kidney failure: a kidney transplant. The ASN leadership and I look forward to working closely with these champions and other members of Congress to make further advances in bolstering kidney transplantation through additional FY25 funding for HRSA’s initiative and other timely legislative efforts in the coming months,” added Dr. Crews.
More than 90,000 people are on the kidney transplant waitlist. Despite this unmet need, more than one in four kidneys are wasted even though data suggest many patients would have benefitted from transplantation with many of those non-used organs. On average, every person who died while waiting for a kidney was offered 17 kidneys that went on to be successfully transplanted into other patients. Owing in part to dated technology and lack of transparency, navigating the transplant system is notoriously difficult for patients and health professionals alike. Implementing the Securing the U.S. OPTN Act will improve the infrastructure of the transplant network and increase the number of transplants performed in the US, bringing better value to Medicare and better outcomes for patients.
“Maximizing patients’ access to a kidney transplant and making sure that access is available to every American with kidney failure regardless of geography, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, or sex/gender, is a top ASN priority, and the reforms enabled by this historic funding increase are a major step in achieving that vision,” said ASN Policy and Advocacy Committee chair and transplant nephrologist Roslyn B. Mannon, MD, FASN. “Allocating this substantial amount of funding will allow HRSA to make major gains towards implementing the patient-centered improvements called for by Congress in the 2023 bipartisan Securing the U.S. OPTN Act.”
The Securing the US OPTN Act, a top priority of ASN in 2023, was passed unanimously by Congress and signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden in September 2023. The legislation provided HRSA the ability to increase transparency, accountability, and competition in the management of the US transplant system and enabled numerous patient-centered reforms that make up HRSA’s OPTN Modernization Initiative.
“This exciting funding increase brings me renewed hope on behalf of the patients I serve today and will serve tomorrow,” said transplant nephrologist Michelle A. Josephson, MD, FASN, ASN Past President “Congress’ commitment to improving the infrastructure of the transplant network, and making it more transparent and navigable for patients, their families, and their care teams, means that more Americans will be able to benefit from the gift of life.”
About ASN
Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout
the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation,
communicating new knowledge and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has
nearly 22,000 members representing 141 countries. For more information, visit www.asn-online.org and follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
# # #
RSS