Advocates, lawmakers push to better support living donors amid critical organ shortage
(InvestigateTV) — Organ donation is often called the gift of life. Yet across the U.S., experts say there aren’t nearly enough donors.
According to OrganDonor.gov, about 17 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant, and every 8 minutes, another name is added to the national transplant waitlist.
They are mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, and even children.
Advocates we spoke with say living organ donors could be a critical solution to this deadly problem.
However, these donors sometimes face barriers to donation such as insurance discrimination, or the potential for out-of-pocket expenses that are not reimbursed.
At the federal level, Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-New York) has introduced several bipartisan bills related to living donor protections. The Living Donor Protection Act would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing current premiums for living donors. Another bill, The Living Donor Tax Credit Act, would provide a $5,000 one-time refundable tax credit to donors who were not previously reimbursed for costs related to donation.
Those efforts have not yet advanced on Capitol Hill.
At the state level, advocates say there’s been some progress. In 2023, New York became the first state to pass legislation that provides direct reimbursement to living organ donors for expenses not covered by insurance – up to $10,000.
In the meantime, there are a few existing programs that offer financial support to help offset a living organ donor’s out-of-pocket expenses. The National Kidney Registry’s ‘Donor Shield’ program partners with certain hospitals. The National Living Donor Assistance Center is another resource for living donors, though there are strict eligibility requirements that must be met in order to qualify.
Reporter Heather Graf goes in-depth to explain what some view as barriers to donation and the push for change.
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