Westbank Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has expressed concerns regarding delays by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in implementing reforms mandated by his Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act. The legislation aims to improve the U.S. organ donation network to facilitate more lifesaving transplants.

Since 1984, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has managed the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Despite this long tenure, OPTN has faced issues such as lost or damaged organs, cybersecurity incidents affecting patient information, and outdated technology infrastructure. Cassidy’s legislation, passed unanimously by Congress last year, seeks to address these challenges by breaking up UNOS's monopoly and introducing reforms to enhance network operations.

HRSA has yet to implement many of these critical reforms while over 103,000 Americans remain on the national transplant waiting list.

“Despite this mandate from Congress, HRSA has been slow to implement these much-needed reforms... As the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, HRSA’s lack of urgency implementing these important reforms is very concerning,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. “As the agency tasked with overseeing the OPTN, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must ensure that the OPTN improves its efficiency so that more patients can receive the gift of a lifesaving organ.”

In a letter addressed to Administrator Johnson of HRSA dated September 11th:

"In 2023," Cassidy wrote "46,632 organ transplants were performed... made possible by more than 22,000 donors." He highlighted that despite progress in transplant numbers over recent years; over 103,000 individuals are still waiting for transplants.

Cassidy pointed out that Congress had passed his co-sponsored bill last year to modernize OPTN in response to complaints against UNOS. The legislation allows HRSA to award multiple contracts for OPTN operations to increase competition and improve management.

"Despite this mandate from Congress," he continued "HRSA has been slow to implement these much-needed reforms." He noted that only recently did HRSA issue final requests for proposals related to board support and operations in May and incorporated an independent board of directors in June. Additionally, details about improving OPTN’s IT infrastructure through forthcoming Next Gen contract solicitations have not been released.

Cassidy posed several questions for HRSA's consideration:

- When does OPTN intend to nominate new board members?

- What informed HRSA’s decision for a special election for new board members later this fall?

- Did HRSA consider an appointments process for new board members?

- What policies will govern special elections for board members?

- How will conflicts of interest be managed among future board members?

Further questions included inquiries about management positions within OPTN:

- Will HRSA directly appoint executive roles or make openings publicly available?

- How will conflicts of interest be avoided in future management positions?

On data management:

- When will solicitations for Next Gen Contracts be released?

- How regularly does HRSA receive procurement data from OPTN?

- What software or tools are required for accessing this data?

Regarding IT system transitions:

- What steps are being taken to avoid service disruptions during transitions between systems?

Finally:

- Is there consideration for multiple vendors servicing OPTN’s IT infrastructure?

- How is HRSA monitoring registration fees on entities listing candidates on OPTN? Are fee changes anticipated as part of modernization efforts?

For further updates from HELP Republicans visit their website or follow @GOPHELP on Twitter.