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Lung CAS summary data updated

Dec 18, 2024 | Heart/lung, News

Lung CAS summary data updated

Below is information for lung transplant program physicians, surgeons, transplant coordinators, program directors and data coordinators on the distribution of scores for all lung candidates registered in the U.S. It is intended as a point-in-time reference to help transplant programs understand how their candidates’ scores compare to the national distribution of components of the lung Composite Allocation Score (lung CAS). Members can also use this information as a guide when submitting CAS exception requests for lung candidates. See the Lung Review Board Operational Guidelines and Clinical Guidance for more information on submitting exception requests. The guidance includes specific recommendations for lung transplant candidates diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Such candidates who meet the following criteria may qualify for an increase in their Waitlist Survival and/or Post-Transplant Outcomes Scores:

  1. Patient is deteriorating on optimal therapy, and
  2. Patient has a right atrial pressure greater than 15 mm Hg or a cardiac index less than 1.8 L/min/m2

To request an increase in a PH candidate’s scores, transplant programs must submit an exception request to the Review Board; this request should include sufficient clinical detail to support that the patient meets the above criteria. If the transplant program believes that its patient has similar waiting list mortality and potential transplant benefit as a PH patient meeting the criteria listed above, then it should provide a detailed narrative on that assertion, referencing literature supporting the request for a higher score. Transplant programs may wish to submit to the Review Board exception requests for the candidate’s Waitlist Survival Score and Post-Transplant Outcomes Score to be at the national 90th percentile for each goal (see tables below). The distribution of Medical Urgency points, Post-transplant Outcomes points, Biological Disadvantages points, CAS subscores for all active registrations waiting for lung transplants as of December 18, 2024 are listed below.

Please note: When submitting an exception request for one of the attributes, when prompted to enter the requested percentage of goal:

  • You first need to identify the percentile column that you are requesting in the corresponding table
  • Then enter the value in the Percentage of Goal row that corresponds with that percentile

Summary of Medical Urgency Goal Points and Percentage of Goal

Medical UrgencyNumber Waiting25th percentileMedian75th percentile90th percentile95th percentile99th percentile
Number of Points 955 0.1175 0.3525 0.6950 1.4525 2.8700 16.9400
Percentage of Goal 955 0.4700% 1.4100% 2.7800% 5.8100% 11.4800% 67.7600%

Summary of Post-Transplant Outcomes Goal Points and Percentage of Goal

Post-Transplant OutcomesNumber Waiting25th percentile Median75th percentile90th percentile95th percentile99th percentile
Number of Points 955 18.4275 19.3875 20.1400 20.7275 21.0300 21.6450
Percentage of Goal 955 73.7100% 77.5500% 80.5600% 82.9100% 84.1200% 86.5800%

Summary of Biological Disadvantages Goal Points and Percentage of Goal

Biological Disadvantages GoalBlood TypeNumber Waiting25th percentile Median75th percentile90th percentile95th percentile99th percentile
Number of Points All Candidates 955 1.3872 5.0300 5.1795 5.5570 6.2850 9.3000
Percentage of Goal All Candidates 955 9.2480% 33.5333% 34.5300% 37.0467% 41.9000% 62.0000%
Number of Points O 592 5.0335 5.0815 5.2965 6.0070 6.7875 9.6025
Percentage of Goal O 592 33.5567% 33.8767% 35.3100% 40.0467% 45.2500% 64.0167%
Number of Points A 258 0.3392 0.4107 0.6122 1.5882 3.5207 5.3172
Percentage of Goal A 258 2.2613% 2.7380% 4.0813% 10.5880% 23.4713% 35.4480%
Number of Points B 94 2.2782 2.3512 2.6707 4.5917 6.4442 7.0557
Percentage of Goal B 94 15.1880% 15.6747% 17.8047% 30.6113% 42.9613% 47.0380%
Number of Points AB 11 0.0335 0.1130 0.4890 1.8835 1.8835 5.1595
Percentage of Goal AB 11 0.2233% 0.7533% 3.2600% 12.5567% 12.5567% 34.3967%

Summary of CAS Subscore (Note: does not include points for efficiency)

Blood TypeNumber Waiting25th percentile Median75th percentile90th percentile95th percentile99th percentile
All Candidates 955 21.5895 24.4555 25.6895 27.0530 30.8615 44.7145
O 592 24.3885 25.2073 26.0850 27.6070 30.8615 44.7145
A 258 19.5117 20.4722 21.4192 24.1432 33.0092 43.0819
B 94 21.6567 22.7454 23.4772 26.1807 27.5402 44.8891
AB 11 19.3090 20.6990 21.3075 23.3760 23.3760 26.7645

Lung Continuous Distribution

New lung policy took effect March 9, 2023. Resources: UNOS Connect for professional education and the OPTN toolkit for patients and professionals.

UNOS names 2024 Lisa Schaffner Community Advocate Award recipient

Dec 17, 2024 | Get involved, News, Patient

UNOS names 2024 Lisa Schaffner Community Advocate Award recipient

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has awarded the 2024 Lisa Schaffner Community Advocate Award to Leslie and Bill Carruth in recognition of their tireless advocacy in memory of their daughter, Alexander “Allie.”

The Lisa Schaffner Community Advocate Award, named after a longtime member of Team UNOS who passed away in 2021, is awarded annually to an unsung hero who has gone above and beyond” to promote organ donation and transplantation. This year’s honorees are donor parents, philanthropists and organ donation advocates who’ve made an impact in Meridian, Mississippi.

In March 2017, Leslie and Bill Carruth tragically lost their 6-year-old daughter, Alexandra (Allie) after an automobile accident. They made the selfless decision to donate her organs to save others when her care team advised she wouldn’t survive.

The Carruths (pictured front row) started the Allie Cat Run and Festival to honor Allie and raise awareness and funds ahead of National Donate Life month.

The event’s theme is daffodils, inspired by Allie’s role as a daffodil in a school play just before she
died. During the play, Allie added an unscripted line: “Have a daffodil day!”

A young girl dressed as a daffodil smiles

Alexander “Allie” Carruth dressed as a daffodil for her school play in 2017.

The first Allie Cat Run and Festival was held on March 24, 2018, with all profits donated to the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA).

Over the past seven years, the Carruths have raised more than $500,000, with all proceeds supporting community programs.

Leslie and Bill Carruth have become trusted voices in their community, inspiring others to register as donors and directly encouraging several families in Meridian to choose donation in times of loss. They have also provided comfort to many during their moments of grief. Their impact is evident in the 7% growth of the donor registry in Meridian and nearby areas.

The Carruths have dedicated countless hours to planning the Allie Cat Run & Festival, speaking at public engagements, and working closely with MORA to promote the importance of organ donation. Their work ensures that more people understand the importance of donation, potentially saving countless lives and giving hope to those in need of transplants – all in honor of a little 6-year-old who wanted everyone to “Have a daffodil day!”

Watch their award acceptance

About UNOS

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a nonprofit organization focused on saving lives. UNOS’ portfolio encompasses organ donation and transplantation, as well as broader public health projects, through its work developing new technologies and initiatives, conducting data-driven research and analysis, providing expert consulting services, advocating for patients, and being a leader in bringing communities together to save lives. For more than 40 years, UNOS has helped build a national donation and transplantation system that serves as a model around the world.

UNOS has been headquartered in the Richmond area since its founding in 1984. UNOS is also home to the  National Donor Memorial, which honors the life-giving impact of organ and tissue donation.

Let us know what you think!

Nov 12, 2024 | Education, News

Let us know what you think!

We’re looking for your feedback about transplant education offerings available in UNOS Connect. The 2024 UNOS Connect survey is available to all users with a UNOS Connect account and is open from Nov. 12 to Dec. 3.

Your responses will help UNOS determine if the available offerings meet your needs and what future topics interest you. The survey should take about ten minutes to complete.

Provide your feedback

This survey will close at the end of the day on Dec 3. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and your answers will be anonymous, UNOS will not be able to connect you or your institution to any of your responses.

Thanks again for your time and valuable input. Contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

21 organizations join UNOS in support of the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act

Nov 11, 2024 | News

21 organizations join UNOS in support of the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act

Twenty-one donation and transplant organizations have joined the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in its support for the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act. This important bipartisan bill will help increase the number of potential organ donors by identifying and recommending best practices for organ donor referral software tools, with the goal of increasing the number of Americans who receive a lifesaving transplant.

Together, the 22 organizations signed a letter of support to the bill’s sponsors, Reps. Rob Wittman, Jennifer McClellan, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Jim Costa. The organizations thank the representatives for their support and urge the House to quickly pass this much-needed bill.

For more information, see UNOS’ press release supporting the bill’s introduction and the full text of the bill.

Dec. 16, 2024: Join UNOS and Donate Life America for the National Tree of Life event

Sep 30, 2024 | Get involved, News, Patient

Dec. 16, 2024: Join UNOS and Donate Life America for the National Tree of Life event

Donate Life America and the United Network for Organ Sharing invite you to join us for a National Tree of Life virtual event to honor the gift of life and remember the generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors and their families. On December 16 at 6:30 pm ET, we will share stories and honor the legacy of donors in each state who gave the gift of life in 2024 and celebrate the thousands of lives they saved.

Watch the 2024 recorded event:

National Tree of Life

This virtual event is an opportunity to gather together to recognize the gift of so many selfless donors and their courageous families, and to celebrate the lives of recipients across the country. We also hope this event may be a source of solace for friends and families who are grieving the loss of a loved one, and for all who may experience a greater sense of loss during the holidays.

UNOS fires back at defamatory statements that it has acted unlawfully

Sep 13, 2024 | News, Trending

UNOS fires back at defamatory statements that it has acted unlawfully

Following unfounded accusations of unlawful behavior, UNOS responds with facts.

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a private non-profit organization focused on saving lives. Its mission is to help patients and their families who are in desperate need of organ donation. But some members of the donation and transplant community continue to malign and defame UNOS, accusing our organization of unlawful behavior.

It must stop.

At a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee on Sept. 11 to discuss HRSA’s implementation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) reform law, several witnesses made false statements under oath alleging violations of the law by UNOS while the non-profit served as OPTN. These individuals were able to produce no evidence of their claims, because it does not exist.

To be clear: UNOS has never engaged in any unlawful behavior. Any statement to the contrary is outrageous and actionable in court.

UNOS has been the international leader in organ donation and transplant for decades, and anyone who questions our motivations or accuses UNOS of unlawful activity is just plain wrong.

Here are some of the statements that imply or outright accuse UNOS of criminal behavior, and here’s our responses:

Statement: UNOS is a monopoly, and that monopoly has meant that patients don’t receive the care they need, and that the donation and transplantation system is corrupt. (Greg Segal, co-founder of Organize, and Dr. Seth Karp, former OPTN Board Member and OPTN Membership and Professional Standards Committee (MPSC) Member)

False. While witnesses used the term “monopoly” to characterize UNOS’ contract role, the characterization is false. The fact that there has only ever been a single OPTN contractor is because the law –not UNOS — said there could only be one OPTN contractor. Since the OPTN’s inception, HRSA has issued requests for proposals for a single organization to operate the network. UNOS submitted a bid proposal at each opportunity to compete. HRSA awarded the OPTN contract to UNOS in 1986, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2005, and 2018 HRSA, not UNOS, structures the OPTN contract and the bid process. Use of the term “monopoly” suggests that there is (or should be) a “market” for organ donation and transplant in America – a position with which UNOS strongly disagrees.

Statement: UNOS retaliates against whistleblowers, and engaged in rewarding and incentivizing whistleblower retaliation. (Greg Segal)

False. The individual who recited these false facts, while declining to produce any evidence in support, has never served on or volunteered with the OPTN, never worked within an OPTN member transplant program, and never worked within an organ procurement organization. He has, further, never served in any transplant and donation oversight role with HHS. Nonetheless, he stated under oath that whistleblower complaints were repeatedly and inexplicably brought to him regarding UNOS (while in its capacity as OPTN) because all complainants were afraid to report to OPTN, and that he promptly referred the complaints to law enforcement and government authorities to conduct further investigations.

There is no record of any such complaints, no record of any allegations against UNOS (whistleblower or otherwise) that were referred to law enforcement by Greg Segal, nor any follow-up investigation of UNOS/OPTN by law enforcement or government authorities, nor any request for UNOS’ cooperation in investigation of an OPTN member because of whistleblower complaints brought forth by Segal to law enforcement or HHS. UNOS is aware of no such record, complaint, or incident in the past four decades it has held the OPTN contract.

UNOS adheres to whistleblower protection laws and does not tolerate, or engage in, retaliation against whistleblowers.