Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Todd Young (R-IN) that would modify how the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds and manages the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is on its way to being signed into law.
The U.S. Senate on July 27 unanimously passed the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, H.R. 2544, which the U.S. House of Representatives approved earlier in the week. Sen. Cassidy and Sen. Young are original cosponsors of their chamber’s version, the identical S. 1668.
“This is an important day for thousands of Americans who are in need of life-saving transplants,” Sen. Young said on July 28. “The Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act includes necessary reforms that will help ensure accountability and transformation in the organ donation and transplant system. This bipartisan bill will save lives, and I look forward to it being swiftly signed into law.”
Once enacted, the legislation will remove barriers in OPTN contracting and give the HRSA statutory authority to improve management of the organ transplantation system in the United States, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The current OPTN contract is set to expire on Sept. 30, making the proposed changes urgent and timely for HRSA to make meaningful reforms, the summary says.
“The management of the U.S. organ transplant system needs serious reform,” said Sen. Cassidy. “Breaking up this monopoly will increase competition, save lives and improve the system. Glad to see our legislation pass Congress and look forward to it becoming law.”
Sens. Young and Cassidy were joined by U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in introducing S. 1668, which was sponsored on May 17 by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), while H.R. 2544 was introduced on April 10 by bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL).
“With congressional passage of our legislation, the Biden administration will have the tools it has asked for to implement a comprehensive modernization of the OPTN contracting process,” said Sen. Wyden. “I look forward to continuing my work to improve this system so more Americans are connected with life-saving transplants.”