The United States’ organ donation and transplantation system saved my life three times.
Without hardworking doctors and generous organ donors, I would not be here today. I am not the only one with a story like this: There were a record-breaking 46,000 organ transplants nationwide last year.
Despite this achievement, 100,000 critically ill patients remain on the waitlist to receive a life-saving organ.
Congress has the opportunity and responsibility to improve the lives for people in need of a transplant. To reduce the time patients spend on the organ waitlist or suffering through dialysis, Congress must pass a policy that will reimburse transplant hospitals for transplanting harder-to-place organs, which will directly address systemic challenges and save lives.
Though I was young and healthy as I started my career as a new Dallas County sheriff’s officer, kidney issues related to my diabetes began to emerge. I pushed through, working my way up to become a sergeant, marrying and having a son in 2008. As time went on, my kidney function continued to decline.
On average, transplant candidates who die on the waitlist had 16 offers for kidneys that were then transplanted to other patients. These offers represent viable organs that transplant hospitals declined on behalf of their patients. A hospital may decline such an organ due to clinical factors, putting their patient back on the list to await another life-saving organ. If crafted correctly and thoughtfully, a policy reimbursing hospitals for transporting hard-to-place organs could prevent 5,000 deaths annually.
While awaiting a transplant, I began dialysis, a treatment that removes excess waste from the bloodstream and regulates blood pressure. It is extremely hard on the body and comes with a handful of harsh side effects, greatly affecting the quality of life. After four grueling months of in-center hemodialysis, I received a kidney and pancreas transplant, a life-changing gift from a deceased donor. Only seven months later, during one of the worst, most painful experiences in my life, my 2-year-old son unexpectedly passed away. My husband and I chose to donate his organs, and I chose to dedicate myself to transplant advocacy.
Any donated organ that is not transplanted represents a profound loss for the donor’s family and the patient. I know as a parent that after donating my son’s organs, I would be devastated if they went unused.
Under the current hospital reimbursement system, certain organs are harder to transplant than others. All donated kidneys have a Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI), a value that reflects the relative risk associated with a donated kidney.
Kidneys scoring a KDPI of 70 percent or greater are successfully transplanted less frequently than kidneys with a lower KDPI value. A higher rate for Medicare reimbursement to hospitals based on the quality of the kidney would facilitate much-needed meaningful change, incentivizing centers to use kidneys that come with a higher expected rate of post-transplant complications, which could include delayed graft function or a longer length of stay. Many hospitals struggle to afford to help patients requiring a longer length of stay without reimbursement. Despite being less-than-perfect organs, these kidneys can still be successfully transplanted and lifesaving.
Through my involvement in transplant advocacy, I have met many patients who experienced the same challenges I faced, including long stints of in-center hemodialysis while waiting months or even years for an organ. I speak from experience when I say that even one day off dialysis is a victory.
It is imperative that the organ donation and transplantation system continues its work to better the lives of patients, and through careful reforms, it can continue to save an ever-increasing number of people. By passing a policy to reimburse hospitals for transplanting hard-to-place organs, Congress can help patients get quicker access to organs, and cut down the transplant waitlist and ensure more patients receive the life-saving organs they desperately need.
Together, with Congress’ help, we can ensure the transplant system continues its lifesaving mission and gives more patients a real chance at life.
