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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.
U.S. surpassed 48,000 organ transplants in 2024
UNOS advocates for reforms to strengthen the system
Leslie and Bill Carruth awarded annual Lisa Schaffner Community Advocate Award
Donor parents recognized for promoting organ, eye and tissue donation
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
UNOS remains committed to strengthening the system
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reinforces its unwavering commitment to serving the nation’s organ donation and transplant community and patients through its contract with the federal government.
UNOS applauds introduction of the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act
UNOS thanks U.S. Reps. for important bipartisan legislation
UNOS applauds House action to prohibit discrimination in organ transplants
UNOS CEO thanks House, urges Senate action
UNOS responds to House subcommittee hearing
UNOS responds to House subcommittee hearing held Sept. 11, 2024.
Andrew Klein, M.D. named UNOS Chief Medical Officer
UNOS welcomes new CMO
UNOS responds to inquiry by Sens. Wyden, Grassley about new Chief Technology Officer
Sens. Wyden and Grassley expressed concern about the hiring of UNOS CTO Ankit Mathur. UNOS sets the record straight with an official response.
UPDATE: UNOS responds to inaccuracies in Bloomberg Law article
Bloomberg Law published an article about allegations of conflicts of interest involving UNOS Chief Technology Officer Ankit Mathur. UNOS challenges these defamatory claims and sets the record straight.
UNOS applauds U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for increasing funding for the OPTN Modernization Initiative
UNOS statement applauds Senate Appropriations Committee for OPTN Modernization funding increase
UNOS welcomes new chief legal officer
Elizabeth “Emy” Trende joins as general counsel overseeing legal strategy
UNOS applauds passage of FAA reauthorization bill
Workgroup to review organs transported via commercial flights
Kidney – Pancreas
Two-year monitoring report available for pancreas allocation policies
Report captures two-year data post implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
Now in effect: Simultaneous heart-kidney and lung-kidney allocation changes
New policies require candidates to meet medical eligibility criteria to be eligible for a required kidney share on the heart or lung match.
Now in effect: Changes to liver-kidney nautical mile threshold
The required share threshold for simultaneous liver-kidney (SLK) allocation has expanded from 250 nautical miles to 500 nautical miles for eligible adult candidates (e.g., Status 1A or MELD of 29 or greater).
Liver – Intestine
A decade of record increases in liver transplant
10,660 liver transplants, the most ever in a year.
Animated videos describe MELD, PELD formulas
Resource especially designed to inform transplant patients and their caregivers.
Now in effect: Changes to liver-kidney nautical mile threshold
The required share threshold for simultaneous liver-kidney (SLK) allocation has expanded from 250 nautical miles to 500 nautical miles for eligible adult candidates (e.g., Status 1A or MELD of 29 or greater).
Heart – Lung
Offer Filters for liver and heart now available
Offer Filters adds data-driven, multi-criteria filters to organ offers at a program level.
Coming soon: Offer Filters for liver and heart allocation
The Offer Filters tool will become available for heart and liver transplant programs in UNet on June 13.
Offer Filters now available for lung allocation
Offer Filters adds data-driven, multi-criteria filters to organ offers at a program level so lung transplant programs can filter offers they will not accept and organ procurement organizations (OPOs) can find an accepting candidate more quickly.
VCA
Three new VCA programs replace GU program
Three new programs have replaced the Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) – genitourinary organ (GU) program
Three new VCA programs to replace GU program
Three new programs will replace the Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) – genitourinary organ (GU) program
UNet is online: VCA and data collection projects released
Allocation of 10 Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) organs has been added to UNet, along with extensive changes to existing data collection forms across organs.
Improving the system together
Innovating to strengthen the organ transplant system
UNOS Labs tries out new ideas in behavioral research, data science and technology. Our researchers develop innovative solutions to improve the national organ network and increase organ utilization.
Inside the Organ Center
They work with OPOs and transplant hospitals around the clock to match organs and save lives across the country, 365 days a year. Meet the team members at the “heart” of UNOS.
Living donation: One person can make a big difference
Living donor Susan Dubuque discusses her decision to become an altruistic organ donor. Read her motivational story today!
UNet
Coming soon: Offer Filters for liver and heart allocation
The Offer Filters tool will become available for heart and liver transplant programs in UNet on June 13.
CPRA >98% form for highly sensitized candidates removed
All candidates with a CPRA above 98% continue to be prioritized on the match appropriately.
Coming soon: Change to the Organ Offer Acceptance Limit
The number of offers a transplant hospital may accept per transplant candidate will be reduced from two to one on May 29, 2024. This change applies to all organ types except for pancreas islets.
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D.
Policy changes
Coming soon: Change to the Organ Offer Acceptance Limit
The number of offers a transplant hospital may accept per transplant candidate will be reduced from two to one on May 29, 2024. This change applies to all organ types except for pancreas islets.
Extra Vessels included in TIEDI® for VCA
TIEDI® permissions for Vessels Reporting have been added to all 10 VCA organs within Security Administration. These permissions allow designated users either full access or read only access, similar to existing permissions for non-VCA organs. Ensure permissions established before March 6, 2024.
Pre-implementation notice: New pre-transplant performance metric
A new risk-adjusted performance monitoring metric-the pre-transplant mortality rate ratio- will take effect in July 2024.
Policy monitoring
Two-year monitoring report available for pancreas allocation policies
Report captures two-year data post implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
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
Research in focus: examining organ offers
Three recent studies from UNOS researchers examine offer acceptance practices and impact of Offer Filters tool.
Collaboration
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Education
TMF 2025 presenters Geatrakas and Socci on Creating a Healthy Relationship between transplant staff and the C-Suite
"Building strong relationships with the C-suite isn’t a one-time ask; it’s an ongoing partnership that drives success and ultimately benefits the patients we serve.” Sara Geatrakas, MSN, RN, Business & Operations Manager and Clare Socci, BSN, RN, Director, Organ...
TMF 2025 speaker Cathi Murphey on Kidney Paired Donation
Learn more from Murphey at the 2025 Transplant Management Forum in San Antonio, TX.
Effective practices
Learn about collaborative improvement projects
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Patient safety
Implementation notice: Required reporting of certain patient safety events now in effect
A new policy is now in effect that requires members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
Pre-implementation notice: Required reporting of patient safety events coming
Effective Jan., 10, 2024, OPTN Policy 18.5, will be updated to require members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
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.
Transplant hospital
Pre-implementation notice: New pre-transplant performance metric
A new risk-adjusted performance monitoring metric-the pre-transplant mortality rate ratio- will take effect in July 2024.
Two guidance documents updated
Resources address VCA donation, geographically endemic infections
OPTN Board approves improvements to reporting of potential patient safety events
Process for reporting enhanced, clarified.
OPO
Two guidance documents updated
Resources address VCA donation, geographically endemic infections
OPTN Board approves improvements to reporting of potential patient safety events
Process for reporting enhanced, clarified.
Implementation notice: Required reporting of certain patient safety events now in effect
A new policy is now in effect that requires members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
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.
Now in effect: Changes to security personnel requirements and reporting
These changes were approved by the OPTN Board of Directors at their June 26, 2023 meeting.