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UNOS applauds inclusion of organ donation and transplantation reforms in FY26 Federal Funding Package
Congress passes UNOS’ Advocacy Agenda, which will strengthen the U.S. organ donation and transplant system.
UNOS responds to CMS proposed rule; celebrates progress for patients
CMS proposed rule incudes key UNOS reforms.
U.S. surpasses 49,000 organ transplants while deceased organ donations dip
The U.S. achieved a record for organ transplants for the fifth consecutive year.
UNOS applauds inclusion of organ donation and transplantation reforms in FY26 Federal Funding Package
Congress passes UNOS’ Advocacy Agenda, which will strengthen the U.S. organ donation and transplant system.
UNOS responds to CMS proposed rule; celebrates progress for patients
CMS proposed rule incudes key UNOS reforms.
U.S. surpasses 49,000 organ transplants while deceased organ donations dip
The U.S. achieved a record for organ transplants for the fifth consecutive year.
UNOS responds to GAO report on the OPTN
Report says HRSA needs to create clear plan for OPTN Modernization.
How UNOS’ role in the OPTN has changed under the additional contract extension
Learn what OPTN work UNOS is still performing under the current contract, and what work is no longer part of UNOS’ portfolio.
UNOS Responds to Recent HRSA Statements
HRSA comments about UNOS were inaccurate.
Open letter from Maureen as she leaves UNOS
Former UNOS CEO reflects on her decades of service.
UNOS reaches contract agreement with HRSA
UNOS has reached an agreement with HRSA on a contract for OPTN work that will take effect on Dec. 30, 2025, immediately following the expiration of our current contract.
HRSA assumes management of OPTN website
Effective December 15, HRSA has taken over full management of the OPTN website from UNOS.
UNOS CEO Maureen McBride announces retirement
After 30 years with UNOS, Dr. Maureen McBride is retiring; “Working at UNOS has been the privilege of my lifetime.”
UNOS and Leading Organ Donation and Transplant Organizations Urge Congress to Maintain Key Priorities in Final FY26 Federal Government Funding Legislation
Coalition of 15 organizations thanks the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees leaders for including policies that improve organ donation and transplant.
UNOS responds to Ways & Means hearing
UNOS statement following Dec. 2 Ways & Means hearing
UNOS responds to Congressional hearing
UNOS statement following July 22 congressional hearing.
UNOS CEO Maureen McBride responds to July 20 New York Times article
UNOS CEO Maureen McBride responds to new article by New York Times.
UNOS adds two members to its board of directors
Melina Davis and Mark Johnson join UNOS’ current seven-member board
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Kidney – Pancreas
Webinar to address kidney-after-thoracic safety net, combined kidney-thoracic allocation
The webinar will be recorded and made available for later viewing.
UNOS supports the Living Donor Protection Act
UNOS is proud to continue supporting the Living Donor Protection Act, providing vital protections for living organ donors.
Implementation notice: Waiting time modifications for candidates affected by race-inclusive eGFR calculations
Programs must complete the process and provide the necessary documentation to the OPTN by Jan. 3, 2024.
Liver – Intestine
A decade of record increases in liver transplant
10,660 liver transplants, the most ever in a year.
UNOS supports the Living Donor Protection Act
UNOS is proud to continue supporting the Living Donor Protection Act, providing vital protections for living organ donors.
New national liver and intestinal organ transplant system in effect Feb. 4, 2020
New national liver and intestinal organ transplant system based on acuity circles implemented Feb. 4, 2020
Heart – Lung
National webinar on Nov.15 for lung transplant professionals on upcoming data collection changes and other insights in lung allocation
A recording will be made available afterward.
Webinar to address kidney-after-thoracic safety net, combined kidney-thoracic allocation
The webinar will be recorded and made available for later viewing.
Six-month monitoring report for heart policy following a device recall now available
Policy allows exception status for heart candidates with a recalled assist device.
Improving the system together
2023: a year of more lives saved
Celebrating memories made and milestones reached, thanks to the gift of life.
When minutes matter: The issues at stake in organ transportation
A look at the intersecting challenges in organ transportation and a call for government and industry leaders to join the donation and transplant community in finding national-level solutions that ensure donor organs get safely to patients in need.
Trailblazing physician broke barriers to become nation’s first Black female transplant surgeon
Dr. Velma Scantlebury-White, who has performed more than 2,000 transplants in her career, says there have been significant changes in terms of achieving equity access in the allocation system for minority patients, but some issues persist.
UNet
UNOS RFI documents for 2021 are available on the UNet Transplant Administrators website
UNOS Request for Information (RFI) documents for 2021 are available on the UNetSM Transplant Administrators website
Implementation notice: Phase I of new kidney medical urgency requirements
Kidney programs should update candidate data ahead of Dec. 15 final implementation.
Pre-implementation notice: Liver and intestinal organ distribution based on acuity circles to be implemented Feb. 4, 2020
This will also include a conversion of each transplant hospital’s MMaT score to reflect transplants performed at hospitals within a radius of 250 miles.
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D.
Policy changes
National webinar on Nov.15 for lung transplant professionals on upcoming data collection changes and other insights in lung allocation
A recording will be made available afterward.
Implementation notice: Waiting time modifications for candidates affected by race-inclusive eGFR calculations
Programs must complete the process and provide the necessary documentation to the OPTN by Jan. 3, 2024.
Implementation notice: Pre-transplant HIV, HBV and HCV testing requirement updated for candidates younger than age 12
Effective July 1, testing no longer required for HIV, HBV and HCV at the time of hospital admission for transplant candidates younger than age 12.
Policy monitoring
Six-month monitoring report for heart policy following a device recall now available
Policy allows exception status for heart candidates with a recalled assist device.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
A decade of record increases in liver transplant
10,660 liver transplants, the most ever in a year.
Education
TMF 2025 speaker Ankit Mathur on AI in Transplant and OPO Operations
By gaining a better understanding of data analytics, predictive data models and AI technologies in organ transplantation, we can foster more thoughtful and informed conversations about the possibilities they offer moving forward.
TMF 2025 speaker Laura Butler on Collaborative Leadership in Transplantation
Collaboration between clinical, business and regulatory roles is essential to building transplant programs that prioritize patient care and outcomes. Having lived on both sides of transplant care, I’m passionate about sharing the lessons I’ve learned.
Effective practices
Learn about collaborative improvement projects
Patient safety
Six-month monitoring report for heart policy following a device recall now available
Policy allows exception status for heart candidates with a recalled assist device.
Implementation notice: Pre-transplant HIV, HBV and HCV testing requirement updated for candidates younger than age 12
Effective July 1, testing no longer required for HIV, HBV and HCV at the time of hospital admission for transplant candidates younger than age 12.
CMS issues COVID-19 guidance to health care providers
The new adult elective surgery and procedure guidelines prioritizes transplant surgeries as essential care.
Transplant hospital
UNOS researchers present studies at 2023 American Transplant Congress
Twenty-two UNOS staff members presented research from 42 studies at the 2023 American Transplant Congress, addressing topics including social determinants of health, offer-acceptance practices, and the impacts of allocation-policy changes.
Coming soon: New OPTN transport label store
The OPTN transport label distributor will be changing April 27. Users will need to create a new account when logging onto the new label store for the first time.
Four decades of lifesaving work: the Organ Center turns 40
The F.M. Kirby Foundation Organ Center is celebrating its 40th year of continuous operation without any service interruptions
OPO
UNOS researchers present studies at 2023 American Transplant Congress
Twenty-two UNOS staff members presented research from 42 studies at the 2023 American Transplant Congress, addressing topics including social determinants of health, offer-acceptance practices, and the impacts of allocation-policy changes.
Coming soon: New OPTN transport label store
The OPTN transport label distributor will be changing April 27. Users will need to create a new account when logging onto the new label store for the first time.
Four decades of lifesaving work: the Organ Center turns 40
The F.M. Kirby Foundation Organ Center is celebrating its 40th year of continuous operation without any service interruptions
Histocompatibility
UNOS researchers present studies at 2023 American Transplant Congress
Twenty-two UNOS staff members presented research from 42 studies at the 2023 American Transplant Congress, addressing topics including social determinants of health, offer-acceptance practices, and the impacts of allocation-policy changes.