Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) today announced the re-introduction of the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act, a bipartisan effort co-led by Reps. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01). The legislation will study the implementation of automated software tools to improve and expedite the organ donation referral process.

This legislation seeks to enhance patient safety by ensuring that every potential organ is automatically referred for donation while reducing the time hospital staff spend on manual referrals. Automating the deceased organ donor referral process will allow hospital staff to focus more on patient care, minimizing the risk of human error, and ultimately increase the number of organs available for transplant.

"By harnessing the power of technology, we can streamline the organ donation referral process, giving healthcare providers more time to care for their patients and save more lives," said Congressman Wittman. "I thank my colleagues for joining me in reintroducing this bipartisan legislation, and I’m committed to advancing this bill in the 119th Congress so we can remove barriers to adopting automated electronic organ referrals in health systems nationwide and give hope to patients waiting for the gift of life."

"Over 100,000 Americans currently await organ transplants, uncertain about their futures. In these life-and-death situations, every donor referral makes a difference," said Congresswoman McClellan. "The bipartisan Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act will support data collection to assess the utility of automated electronic donor referral tools. This could pave the way for more streamlined transplant processes that reduce wait times and other inefficiencies to help save lives."

“The Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act represents a critical step toward saving more lives by leveraging technology to streamline the organ donation process,” said Congressman Costa. “By automating donor referrals, this legislation will enhance patient care, reduce human error, and increase efficiency in the organ transplant system. It’s a practical, life-saving solution that will bring hope to countless families.”

“As a physician, I know how important it is to improve our healthcare system’s organ donor transplantation referral process,” said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. “Our bill aims to enhance patient safety by reducing human error, increase the number of patients receiving the gift of lift, and reduce hospital administrative tasks to focus on patient care. In Congress, fighting for healthcare outcomes for patients and their families remains a priority.”

The bill is endorsed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), National Kidney Foundation (NKF), American Kidney Fund, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA), American Society of Transplantation, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), American Liver Foundation, American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA), North American Transplant Coordinators Association (NATCO), American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI), American Association of Kidney Patients, Waitlist Zero, LifeNet Health (VA-01 OPO), Gift of Life Donor Program, Gift of Hope, Infinite Legacy, Association of Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation, Transplant Families, LifeCenter Northwest, Life Connection of Ohio, Lifebanc, HonorBridge, One Legacy, New Jersey Sharing Network, Lifesharing Donate Life Organization, LifeGift, LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, and Lifeline of Ohio.

“UNOS is proud to support the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act, which is an essential step towards the national adoption of automated electronic deceased donor referral technology,” said Maureen McBride, Ph.D., CEO of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). “This technology will lift the burden of manual reporting off busy hospital staff, reduce the risk of human error, and ensure all potential donors have the opportunity to donate their organs for life-saving transplants. Nationwide implementation would reduce the number of people waiting for a lifesaving transplant.”

"The American Society of Transplant Surgeons is pleased to endorse the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act, as we are dedicated to modernizing every aspect of the transplant system to improve patient outcomes,” President Ginny L. Bumgardner, MD, Ph.D. of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. “The research outlined in this bill will gather critical data on the most effective practices for automated electronic donor referrals, optimizing the system's efficiency and ultimately saving numerous lives through the generous act of organ donation."

"The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) is proud to endorse the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act, a crucial initiative to maximize the potential of organ donation and save more lives," said President Dorrie Dils of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO). "We appreciate Representative Wittman’s commitment to advancing this life-saving legislation. Our member Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) understand the impact of automatic referrals in accelerating donor identification, authorization, and organ recovery. This proven approach is a critical step toward ensuring every donation opportunity is realized, and we fully support making it a national standard."

“LifeNet Health has found that automatic electronic donor referrals can support earlier identification of potential organ donors, reduce administrative errors, and save hospital staff time,” LifeNet Health OPO Executive Director Todd Hubler said. “LifeNet Health thanks Representatives Wittman, McClellan, Miller-Meeks, and Costa for their leadership on the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act.”

“With more than 103,000 Americans on the national organ transplant list, public policy to enhance our organ donation system to help save more lives is critically important,” said Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton. “Each day, 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant. The Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act sponsored by Congressman Wittman will help streamline automated referrals for organ donation. This legislation has the support of hospitals in Virginia and beyond, which play a central role in the tens of thousands of organ transplantation procedures performed each year.”

Background

Automated electronic deceased organ donor referrals are used by hospitals to refer to organ procurement organizations (OPOs) patients who may become deceased organ donors. Widespread use of automated electronic deceased organ donor referral could increase patient safety and reduce the number of Americans waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. The technology uses hospital electronic health records (EHR) systems to flag patients who are potential candidates for donation and send patient information to the collaborating OPO. Automated electronic deceased organ donor referral replaces the standard practice of manually notifying OPOs of potential deceased organ donors, lifting the burden of reporting off busy hospital staff, reducing the risk of human error, and ensuring every potential donor is referred.

Read the full bill text here.

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