January 28, 2026, Richmond, VA
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) strongly supports the important steps outlined in the proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which advances two critical reforms we have long championed: modernizing donor referral with electronic referrals from the donor hospital to the OPO and improving the tracking of donated organs in transit to transplant hospitals. Automated Deceased Donor Referral (ADR) and organ transportation have been key pillars of UNOS’ agenda in recent years, and we are confident that CMS implementing these two proposals will improve the system for patients.
ADR has already shown transformative potential, in one small study increasing donor referrals by 333%, and every additional donor can save up to eight lives. These are the kinds of significant improvements that patients deserve.
Every donated organ is a gift of life, and should not be lost, delayed in transit or damaged. The proposed requirement for organ procurement organizations (OPOs) to report transportation-related adverse events brings long-needed transparency and accountability to the process, paving the way for nationwide improvements and reinforcing the urgency of establishing a real-time national organ tracking system.
With more than 108,000 people awaiting transplant in the United States, every step forward counts. We need momentum and urgency. These bold, practical actions from CMS represent meaningful progress for patients, families, the organ donation and transplant community, and all Americans.
Read more about UNOS’ proposed reforms and advocacy work.
