Medicare proposes new transplant system rules that may increase use of less-than-perfect organs

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rules to strengthen oversight of organ procurement organizations and to encourage greater use and tracking of medically complex (less-than-perfect) organs; the proposal is expected to be finalized later this year.

The government announced a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to change how the U.S. transplant system is overseen. The proposal aims to strengthen oversight of organ procurement organizations and to increase use of medically complex, or less-than-perfect, donated organs. The move comes amid a longer effort to overhaul the transplant system and after a recent drop in deceased donations that raised concerns about public trust. CMS said the proposal would be finalized later in the year. Key details: - CMS would strengthen oversight and accountability for organ procurement organizations (OPOs). - The proposal urges maximizing use of medically complex organs and would add requirements for how OPOs track retrieval and usage of those organs. - More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant waiting list, and thousands die while waiting for organs. - Deceased organ donations fell last year for the first time in over a decade, and some people removed their names from donor lists after reports that affected public confidence. - The rule would add definitions of "unsound medical practices" related to organ handling and patient safety and is expected to be finalized later this year. Summary: The proposal could expand the pool of organs considered for transplantation while tightening oversight of organizations that retrieve organs. Officials say the rule is intended to increase accountability and protect patients; finalization is expected later in the year.