Organ Transplant Network: New Fees for Waitlist Candidates and Digital Integration
This Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees from Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) members for each candidate placed on the transplant waiting list. These funds are strictly dedicated to supporting OPTN operations, aiming to improve the efficiency of the transplant system. Furthermore, the law mandates the integration of electronic health records and greater transparency regarding transplant data, potentially speeding up processes and increasing patients' chances of receiving an organ.
Key points
Fee Collection: Hospitals and transplant centers will pay registration fees for each patient placed on the transplant waiting list, with funds exclusively supporting OPTN operations.
Increased Transparency: Requirement to promptly post quarterly information on collected fees and the activities they support, enhancing public oversight of OPTN expenditures.
Digital Integration: Mandate to encourage the integration of electronic health record (EHR) systems among hospitals and organ procurement organizations, including remote electronic access for potential donor data, to streamline processes.
Sunset Clause: The authority to collect these registration fees expires 5 years after the Act's enactment, ensuring a mandatory review of the funding mechanism's effectiveness.
Expired
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