Moran, Blunt urge HHS to end proposed organ transplant distribution policies

U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) are “deeply concerned” about the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s (OPTN) proposed policy changes for allocating kidney and pancreas organs for transplant.

“We believe the new allocation policies reward historically low-performing, troubled organ procurement organizations without taking steps to improve their performance and help a greater number of Americans in need of a life-saving organ,” the senators wrote in an Aug. 6 letter sent to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar.

The OPTN’s proposed changes to the national kidney and pancreas distribution policies would negatively impact patients awaiting transplants in Midwestern states, including their home states of Missouri and Kansas, the lawmakers wrote.

At the same time, “OPTN’s actions blatantly ignore ongoing litigation over this very subject,” added Sens. Blunt and Moran in their letter, noting that HHS is currently being sued for pursuing the same redistribution policy for livers.

“Why, then, would the Department agree to allow OPTN to move forward in the same manner for additional organs three months after being told by a court it cannot move forward with its flawed liver allocation policy?” they wrote.

Sens. Blunt and Moran reminded Secretary Azar that in their May 2 letter to him, they requested that he delay “the flawed liver allocation policy” until the U.S. Comptroller General fully reviews both OPTN’s policy-making process and HHS’s oversight of the program. 

“We are still awaiting your response,” they wrote this month.

Sens. Moran and Blunt also sent two previous letters to Azar in December 2018 and in January challenging the liver policy change due to its potentially negative impact on costs and wait times, according to their offices.