Wyden Statement on Decertification of Kentucky Organ Procurement Organization
Washington, D.C. — Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services announced that the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO), Network of Hope, will be decertified, meaning they can no longer participate in the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network that connects organ donors to recipients.
“This situation is a clear example of why the organ transplant system in America needs significant reforms,” Wyden said. “Too often, safety measures and true accountability are tossed to the wayside in favor of skewed incentives that don’t help American families. Decertification is a first step. Now HHS must finish the job and ensure every American has safe access to a lifesaving transplant. I will continue to push for reforms that will strengthen the organ transplant system and bolster trust in this lifesaving care.”
Late last year, Wyden, along with Sen. Grassley, sent a letter to Kennedy alerting him to grave patient safety concerns at the Kentucky OPO. Wyden also released draft legislation to improve safety and fairness in the organ transplant system by creating new nationwide standards for OPOs and stronger penalties for those that don’t meet those standards, among other measures.
###
Next Article Previous Article