Congress introduces bill to protect living organ donors

Jerry Nadler

Members of the US House and Senate of New York, Washington State and Arkansas introduced a bill in Congress requiring employers to recognize living organ donors under the Health Act. medical leave for the family.

Representatives. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, and Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., joined Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., February 14, to introduce the Living Donor Protection Act, 2019.

According to a press release issued by Nadler's office, the Ministry of Labor issued a legal opinion last year stating that people who choose to donate an organ are covered by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA ). The Living Donor Protection Act would codify the Department of Labor's guidelines to protect living donors in the private and civil sectors, removing one of the biggest barriers to organ donation, they said.

"Every year, 6,000 Americans become living donors of kidneys, liver and other organs to save the lives of family members, friends, colleagues, and even complete strangers," he said. Nadler in his release. "But every 10 minutes, another name is added to the waiting list for a transplant. This Living Donor Protection Act, which I am proud to sponsor again at this convention, will provide vital protections for living donors and remove economic barriers that make it too often impossible to become a living donor. By ensuring that donors have enough time to heal after the donation and that they can continue to buy insurance, this will give them more certainty and encourage more Americans to donate. Organs alive.

Legislators cited a 2014 study in American Journal of Transplantation this indicates that 27% of living organ donors have difficulty in securing or paying for insurance after their procedures due to discriminatory practices.

The Living Donor Protection Act would protect living organ donors and promote organ donation in three ways, according to the press release:

– the law prohibits life, disability and long-term care companies from denying or limiting their coverage and charging higher premiums for living organ donors;

– amends the Family and Medical Leave Act 1993 to specifically include the donation of living organs as a serious health problem for employees in the private and civil sectors; and

– The law asks HHS to update its living donation documents to reflect these new protections and to encourage more people to consider giving an organ.

"The gift of organs is the gift of life. I am proud to work with colleagues in the House and Senate on this bipartisan bill to protect living donors and remove existing barriers to donations, "Beutler said in a statement. "Rescue organ donations also save Medicare millions of dollars and reduce costs to the health system, which means my goal is to provide better health care to residents." Southwest Washington. "

The bipartite law "would help to ensure that people who wish to save someone 's life by donating organs can do so without fear of facing discrimination in matters of badual orientation. insurance or lose their job at the end of this invasive procedure, "Gillibrand said. says in the release. "These are essential protections that disinterested individuals who choose to become living donors need, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to pbad this bill."

The legislation is supported by the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

"Today, four congressional champions have stood up to defend organ donors and the 100,000 Americans waiting for a kidney transplant", Kevin Longino, The CEO of the NKF and a kidney transplant patient, said in the press release. "The National Kidney Foundation is proud to have worked closely with these congressional champions on the Living Donor Protection Act and we congratulate them on their willingness to join us in helping to protect living donors and reduce some obstacles to donation.

Dianne McKay, MD, The president of the AST, said that the law on the protection of living donors "is a thoughtful public policy proposal that would immediately improve the lives of those who seek to give their lives, waiting for people to live. a donor organ that saves life and their families. "

"Removing barriers to living donation is an essential part of expanding access to lifesaving transplants for those who suffer from a terminal organic disease", Dixon B. Kaufman, MD, PhD, president of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, said in the release. "The legislation targets two major obstacles to organ donation: job security and insurance coverage."

References:

www.kidney.org/news/national-kidney-foundation-applauds-congressional-champions-legislation-to-protect-living-organ

nadler.house.gov/press-release/nadler-herrera-beutler-gillibrand-cotton-introduce-bipartisan-living-donor-protection