Today, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) CEO Maureen McBride, Ph.D., issued the following statement in response to the draft request for proposals issued by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the next series of Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) contracts:
“UNOS welcomes HRSA’s plan for a more competitive OPTN contract bidding process. As we review the individual draft RFPs, UNOS will keep patients at the center of our decision-making as we determine how we can continue to be of service to HRSA in support of the nation’s organ donation and transplant system.
Since I became UNOS CEO, I’ve been committed to working collaboratively with HRSA, Congress and the nationwide transplant community to drive improvements to the entire system and lead the way on reforms that benefit patients and donor families. This collaborative approach is the only way we can continue to enact meaningful improvement. The draft RFPs released by HRSA represent the next step in that ongoing improvement process, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together.
Given the system’s complexity, the lives that depend on it, and our unique level of experience, I firmly believe UNOS should continue to play a critical role in the nation’s organ donation and transplant system. We stand ready to engage in this competitive bidding process and support HRSA’s goals of doing what’s best for patients and saving more lives.”
