The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) appreciates the Administration’s efforts to improve kidney care and transplantation, eliminate regulatory barriers, and deliver greater choice and outcomes to kidney patients, as outlined in its Kidney Care National Plan this week. As transplant surgeons, we are keenly focused on bolstering the important public-private partnership between the transplant community and Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).
We strongly urge the Administration and Department of Health and Human Services to rely on transplant surgeons and the entire transplant community as equal partners in OPTN Modernization. We ask for swifter action in OPTN Modernization, including deployment of the new contractors, and increased transparency for stakeholders, the public, and Congress in these activities – all of which should increase the public trust in this life-saving field of medicine.
We appreciate the Administration’s focus on strengthening living kidney donation and expanding access to transplantation. With over 90,000 individuals on the waitlist for a kidney transplant, our efforts in Congress are focused on passage of the Living Donor Protection Act (S. 1552/H.R. 4582/4583) which removes roadblocks in employment and insurance coverage for those who choose to give the gift of life through living organ donation.
For media inquiries, contact Wheatley Marshall at wmarshall@themotionagency.com