February 09,2024

Wyden Welcomes First Step in Implementation of Organ Transplant Law

HRSA’s Request for Proposals Marks Monumental First Step Towards Reforming the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to Increase Accountability and Help Families

Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for issuing new requests for proposals this week aimed at reforming the organ transplant system. 

The requests for proposals are a first step of the implementation of Wyden’s Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2023, and will help break up the monopoly contract used to manage the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).

“I am happy to see HRSA taking this critical first step toward a comprehensive modernization of the OPTN contracting process. I am especially encouraged to see the agency is addressing inequities in the organ waitlist process by directing the current OPTN vendor to standardize and update pre-waitlist data,” Wyden said. “Given that this is the first time in 40 years that the transplant system will see substantial change, our work is far from over. I will continue to watchdog these efforts and fight for increased funding to ensure meaningful and effective implementation of this lifesaving law.”

Wyden has worked extensively to improve the U.S. organ donation system. In 2020, he joined forces with U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Todd Young, R-Ind., to launch a Finance Committee investigation into the system’s failures. These oversight efforts notched a major victory last year when President Biden signed the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act into law and will reform the management of the organ transplant system and improve patients’ access to lifesaving organ donations.

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