Van Duyne Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Organ Donation Process

Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R) has introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at cutting red tape and modernizing the organ donation process.

The Removing Burdens From Organ Donation Act is co-led by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D), Carol Miller (R), and Jim Costa (D). The bill seeks to improve communication between hospitals and Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) to save more lives through faster, more efficient donor referrals.

“Organ donation saves lives, but too often, outdated processes and unnecessary red tape stand in the way,” Rep. Van Duyne said in a statement. “By cutting bureaucratic delays and modernizing the referral process, this legislation will ensure that more donor organs reach the patients who desperately need them.”

The bill would require hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid to send automated electronic notifications to OPOs when a patient dies or meets the criteria for imminent death. It would also give OPOs remote access to relevant medical records to facilitate faster, informed decision-making.

“This bill would cut through unnecessary red tape that slows down the organ donation process,” Rep. DelBene added. “By streamlining and automating how hospitals notify Organ Procurement Organizations, we can save valuable time and more lives.”

The bill includes temporary exemptions for hospitals facing exceptional challenges, such as cybersecurity threats, natural disasters, or limited rural broadband.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would provide best practice guidance and annual exemption reports, while the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would study the bill’s impact on outcomes and data security.

Leaders from transplant organizations praised the bill.

“Securely integrating systems through automated referrals and remote access protocols will streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase patient safety,” Brad Adams, the CEO of Southwest Transplant Alliance, said. Kevin Myer of LifeGift added that moving from phone calls to electronic referrals “allows critical care staff to focus on patient care and gives the organ donation team precious time to begin their lifesaving work.”