Issues and advocacy
Action Agenda
Actions to strengthen the U.S. organ donation and transplant system
About UNOS and the OPTN
Congressional leave-behinds
Positions and fact sheets
Get involved
United Network for Organ Sharing is the mission-driven, non-profit organization that serves as the nation’s organ donation and transplant system—the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)—under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
UNOS carries out this lifesaving work by …
- Including all members of the donation and transplant community, including patients, donors and donor families, as valued equals in the organ allocation policy development process.
- Ensuring equitable access to organ transplants, no matter who you are or where you live.
- Demonstrating our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
- Advocating at the federal level for innovative policies and regulations that support growth.
- Honoring the gift of life in all that we do.
About the U.S. system
- See visual timeline of the transplant journey.
- Who does what: The national organ transplant system
About UNOS
United Network for Organ Sharing is the mission-driven, non-profit organization that serves as the nation’s organ donation and transplant system—the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)—under contract with and oversight by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
FAQs about UNOS’ role
What is the OPTN?
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is the name of the transplant system in the United States. The OPTN brings together volunteer donation and transplant professionals, patients, donors and donor families to develop the nation’s organ allocation policies. The OPTN acts through its Board of Directors.
Visit OPTN website
Congressional leave-behinds
Action Agenda
Working together: Our nation’s organ donation and transplant system
- About UNOS
- Roles of OPTN, HRSA, and CMS in the organ donation and transplant system
- Relationships among HHS, HRSA, OPTN, and OPTN and SRTR contractors
Issue briefs
UNOS positions and fact sheets
UNOS positions on legislation
- UNOS letter to Congress
- Stakeholder letter supporting the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act (31 Oct. 2024)
- Stakeholder Letter Thanking U.S. House and Senate Transportation Committees (20 June, 2024)
- Organ Transportation Working Group Stakeholder Letter (20 June, 2024)
- FY2025 OPTN Funding Stakeholder Letter (26 Apr. 2024)
- Community Letter Supporting the Honor Our Living Donors Act (23 Feb. 2024)
- UNOS Letter of Support for Living Organ Donor Tax Credit Act (23 Feb. 2024)
- UNOS Supports Virginia Medicaid Coverage for Adult Pancreas Transplantation (House / Senate) (13 Feb. 2024)
- Organ transportation FAA sign-on letter (18 Jan. 2024)
2023
- Saving Organs One Flight at a Time Act, Stakeholder Sign-on Letter (30 Oct. 2023)
- UNOS letter supporting the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (29 Aug. 2023)
- UNOS position on the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act (30 June 2023)
- Stakeholder letter supporting organ transport provision in FAA reauthorization (19 June 2023)
- UNOS supports the Living Donor Protection Act (15 May 2023)
2022
2021
UNOS positions on regulations
- UNOS comment on CMMI IOTA proposed model (15 July, 2024)
2023
- UNOS comments on HHS discrimination proposed rule (16 Oct. 2023)
2022
2021
- UNOS, AST and ASTS notice to FDA on organ preservation solution shortage (16 Dec. 2021)
- UNOS comments on CMS-1752-P FY22 IPPS rule for acute care hospitals (27 June 2021)
- OPTN response to Transplant Procedures with Live Donors and Related Care Services, Department of Veterans Affairs (21 May 2021)
- UNOS, AST and ASTS joint response to CMS Medicare and Medicaid Programs; OPO conditions for participation (4 March 2021)
- OPTN response to CMS-3380 Medicare and Medicaid Programs; OPO conditions for participation (1 March 2021)
Fact sheets and statements
- UNOS Supports Organ Donation Education (23 Feb. 2024)
2023
- Understanding the drug overdose epidemic’s effect on organ donation (9 Nov. 2023)
- Saving more lives through increased organ usage (Aug. 2023)
- UNOS Statement for the Record Senate Finance Health Subcommittee Hearing (20 July 2023)
- Updated statement concerning Buckeye Transplant Services (20 July 2023)
- UNOS statement on the 2023 OPO Public Performance Report by CMS (28 April 2023)
- UNOS statement supporting improvements to the national system (22 March 2023)
- Follow-up letter to the Department of Transportation regarding organ transport on commercial flights (17 March 2023)
- Setting the record straight on liver allocation policy (28 Feb. 2023)
- Actions to strengthen the U.S. organ donation and transplant system (30 Jan. 2023) View PDF or web version
- UNOS leadership sends letter to HRSA Administrator seeking to advance plan for governance restructuring (10 Jan. 2023)
- UNOS leadership seeks meeting with U.S. Digital Service and formal review (4 Jan. 2023)
2022
- UNOS leadership seeks better air transportation for lifesaving organs (8 Dec. 2022)
- UNOS CEO shares vision for pivotal moment in the organ donation and transplant community (5 Dec. 2022)
- UNOS Board of Directors statement on the national examination of the organ donation and transplant system (1 Sept. 2022)
- UNOS statement on Senate Finance Committee Hearing (4 Aug. 2022)
- UNOS CEO Brian Shepard’s testimony to the Senate Finance Committee (3 Aug. 2022)
- Letter to HRSA Administrator from UNOS Board President Dr. Jerry McCauley (2 Aug. 2022)
- UNOS Board of Directors statement on the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade (8 July 2022)
- The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and American Society of Nephrology (ASN) thank OPTN for eliminating use of race-based calculations of kidney function in transplant (23 June 2022)
- UNOS letter to Chairman Krishnamoorthi on House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee’s OPO investigation report (28 April 2022)
- OPTN letter to National Academies’ Committee on Organ Donation and Transplant System (27 April 2022)
2021
- Liver transplants up 5% in 18 month report (20 Dec. 2021)
- U.S. surpasses 40,000 transplants in a year milestone (20 Dec. 2021)
- Kidney transplants up 22% (1 Nov. 2021)
- UNOS statement regarding COVID-19 vaccine and transplantation (6 Oct. 2021)
Press releases
UNOS CEO Urges Congressional Action on Lifesaving Reforms
Proposes critical ways to strengthen the nation’s transplant system
UNOS and Donate Life America invite you to honor donors
Join National Tree of Life live stream December 16
UNOS continuously strengthens the security of the OPTN IT system
Cybersecurity protections for OPTN IT system
News
Lung CAS summary data updated
Information for lung transplant programs on the distribution of scores for all active registrations waiting for lung transplants in the U.S.
Let us know what you think!
The 2024 UNOS Connect survey is available to all users with a UNOS Connect account and is open from Nov. 12 to Dec. 3.
21 organizations join UNOS in support of the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act
This important bipartisan bill will help increase the number of potential organ donors
Get involved
Contact External Affairs
Contact Congress
Contact your Members of Congress about returning organs to the cabin of commercial flights.
Be an ambassador
When you volunteer as a UNOS Ambassador, we’ll provide tools, tips, and resources to help you share UNOS’ lifesaving mission in your community. Learn more
Public comment
Winter 2024 public comment was open through March 19.
Special public comment period for expedited placement variance was open Dec. 21, 2023 – Feb. 4, 2024. View comments