Bucshon bill betters U.S. organ procurement, transplantation

U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) on Monday sponsored a bipartisan bill to improve the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and move it beyond monopoly management in the United States.

“Every year, thousands of potentially lifesaving organs go to waste, even as Americans die waiting for transplants,” Rep. Bucshon said. “We can and must work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organ transplantation process.”

Rep. Bucshon on April 10 introduced the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, H.R. 2544, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL).

“I am proud to partner with Rep. Kelly to introduce the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act to help make more organs available to Hoosiers and all Americans,” said Rep. Bucshon.

If enacted, H.R. 2544 would allow for the Health Resources and Services Administration to run a competitive process to choose from the best contractors for different national functions of the OPTN, such as health IT and logistics, among others, according to information provided by Rep. Bucshon’s office.

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has held a monopoly over the contract to manage organ distribution since 1984, the information says, and reports have surfaced about how the monopoly impacts the OPTN.

“The Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act will make the U.S. organ transplant network more effective and efficient,” said Rep. Kelly. “As our country continues to move forward at a rapid pace, with new technologies becoming available every day, we owe it to our constituents to bring our medical practices into the 21st Century and save lives.”

H.R. 2544 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.