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Waiting time adjustment approved for kidney transplant candidates affected by race-based calculation
Previous use of race-based calculations disadvantaged some Black patients by overestimating their kidney function.
Update: CPRA calculation
The new formula for Calculated Panel Reactive Antibody (CPRA) will now go into effect on Jan. 26, 2023.
Nominees chosen for 2023 Board of Directors election
Voting members will receive election materials in January 2023.
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Kidney – Pancreas
National collaborative focusing on organ offer acceptance to launch at the end of January 2023
More than 80 transplant programs are participating in the project; a virtual option for the in-person kickoff event is available to the entire community.
Pre-implementation notice: KPD policy updates
The changes are intended to improve the efficiency of the OPTN Kidney Paired Donation Pilot Program (KPDPP), improve clarity around the living donation process and update informed consent for participants in all KPD programs.
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
Updated median MELD at transplant scores in effect; revisions made to MMaT and MPaT scores
Basing MMaT scores around the donor hospital intended to promote greater patient access.
Updated MMaT scores in effect Sept. 28
Effective Sept. 28, 2022, the median MELD at transplant (MMaT) values for liver transplant candidates with exception scores will be updated.
Two-year monitoring report for liver, intestine policy shows success in key aspects
Report details outcomes since policy implementation in February 2020.
Heart – Lung
Transplant patient webinar addresses upcoming changes to lung distribution
The OPTN will host a webinar for transplant patients to learn about upcoming changes to lung distribution.
Three-month monitoring report for heart policy following a device recall now available
Report shows key measures of adult heart allocation based on policy changes implemented in July 2022.
Lung Composite Allocation Score (CAS) calculator coming February 2023
The lung Composite Allocation Score (CAS) calculator will be available on the OPTN website beginning Feb. 2, 2023.
VCA
Updates to living donor exclusion criteria now in effect
Four exclusion criteria in OPTN Policy 14.4.E have been updated to align with current research and guidelines as well as ensure consistency throughout OPTN policy language.
Education now available: Updates to living donor exclusion criteria
Professional education on this policy change is now available in UNOS Connect. These policy changes take effect July 26.
Improving the system together
Building a team, serving a community: Pride at NEDS
New England Donor Services LGBTQIA+ outreach meets the community where they are.
10 things UNOS is doing to get the right organ to the right patient at the right time
New technology, innovative data tools and collaborative research projects conducted by UNOS help drive continuous improvement in getting the right organs to the right patients.
How Offer Filters will help more kidney patients, faster
Offer Filters analyzes two years of a program’s accepted organ offers to help get high KDPI kidneys to patients who need them.
UNet
Predictive analytics tool now available to all kidney programs
Innovative new technology helps transplant hospitals make the right match for their patients
Available now: Predictive analytics for adult kidney offers
The predictive analytics tool seeks to show the likely impacts for a candidate if their current offer is refused, based on relevant historical data for similar candidates.
VCA coming to UNet Spring 2023
Audience VCA programs All UNetSM users (for awareness) Implementation date Spring 2023 At-a-glance Allocation of all Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) organs will be moving into UNet starting in the Spring of 2023. Additional details There is no action needed...
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
VCA coming to UNet Spring 2023
Audience VCA programs All UNetSM users (for awareness) Implementation date Spring 2023 At-a-glance Allocation of all Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) organs will be moving into UNet starting in the Spring of 2023. Additional details There is no action needed...
Pre-implementation notice: CPRA calculation change
This policy change is intended to more accurately reflect patient sensitization.
Updated MMaT scores in effect Sept. 28
Effective Sept. 28, 2022, the median MELD at transplant (MMaT) values for liver transplant candidates with exception scores will be updated.
Policy monitoring
Two-year monitoring report for liver, intestine policy shows success in key aspects
Report details outcomes since policy implementation in February 2020.
Two-year monitoring report summarizes National Liver Review Board activity
Report covers activity since the implementation of the acuity circles liver allocation policy.
One-year monitoring report shows increases in kidney transplants for Black, Hispanic, Asian and pediatric patients following policy changes
Report captures first 12 months of data after implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
7 years of HOPE
Implemented in 2015 , the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act has given more than 350 living with HIV an opportunity to receive a lifesaving transplant from an HIV-positive donor.
Collaboration
Measuring success: data highlights from the first cohort of the DCD procurement collaborative
Participating OPOs surpassed their project goals, saw higher increases than the rest of the nation.
30 OPOs participating in national project to increase procurement of DCD donors
Number of DCD donor recoveries in 2021 exceeded previous year’s record by more than 29 percent.
UNOS launching new member focused improvement initiative in 2022
Customized individual improvement projects will help OPTN members meet specific goals.
Second phase of national DCD procurement collaborative project ready to launch
Aim is to increase DCD organ procurement, all OPOs are invited to participate.
Education
Education now available: Updates to living donor exclusion criteria
Professional education on this policy change is now available in UNOS Connect. These policy changes take effect July 26.
Playlists added to UNOS Connect
This new enhancement makes keeping up to date on essential education easier than ever.
June 14 webinar addresses median MELD at transplant based on donor hospital
Upcoming policy change will align median MELD at transplant (MMaT) scores around the donor hospital and update sorting within liver allocation.
TMF 2022 presenter Olivia Kates, M.D., on the theory and practice of vaccine mandates
Transplant infectious disease doctor examines the factual and ethical issues involved in vaccine mandates.
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Perspectives
From UNOS leaders
Thanking our community, honoring donors
A message from our CEO about a lifesaving milestone
Equity means providing a transplant for every single patient that needs one
As the mission-driven non-profit serving as the nation’s transplant system, we work with our community partners to ensure equitable policies and outcomes.
New kidney and pancreas allocation system will increase equity
Through a nearly three-year policy development process, the organ donation and transplant community collaborated to increase equity in access to transplant for candidates nationwide.
From the community
Transplant innovations for today and tomorrow: David Klassen, M.D.
UNOS chief medical officer on the innovations making a difference in transplant.
Transplant equity work never ends: Jerry McCauley, M.D.
UNOS president-elect shares his perspective on transplant equity and the work still to be done.
Why I volunteer: Kidney recipient Precious McCowan
Committee member discusses the importance of patient and donor family advocacy.
“For us and everyone else in the transplant community, the ultimate form of equity means providing a transplant for every single patient that needs one.”
Patient safety
Now in effect: New identity verification process when calling UNOS Customer Service & Organ Center
Effective Sept. 1, any caller who requests access to private information or UNet services from UNOS will use a new identity verification process that utilizes Authy.
Monkeypox and solid organ donation
The OPTN Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) is evaluating this situation as it develops.
New exception pathway available for heart device recalls
In order to address patient safety concerns, the OPTN Executive Committee approved a modification of OPTN Policy 6.4: Adult and Pediatric Status Exceptions on July 11 that is now in effect.
Transplant hospital
Coming soon: Predictive analytics for adult kidney offers
The goal is to help decision makers make evidence-based decisions to benefit candidates when determining whether to accept or refuse an offer.
7 years of HOPE
Implemented in 2015 , the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act has given more than 350 living with HIV an opportunity to receive a lifesaving transplant from an HIV-positive donor.
Now in effect: New lung data collection fields to support lung continuous distribution
Two new fields are now in effect for lung data collection in preparation for lung continuous distribution, which is to be released in the first quarter of 2023.
OPO
7 years of HOPE
Implemented in 2015 , the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act has given more than 350 living with HIV an opportunity to receive a lifesaving transplant from an HIV-positive donor.
Now in effect: New lung data collection fields to support lung continuous distribution
Two new fields are now in effect for lung data collection in preparation for lung continuous distribution, which is to be released in the first quarter of 2023.
Now in effect: MFA TransNet mobile for Android
TransNet mobile for Android devices now supports multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Histocompatibility
Pre-implementation notice: CPRA calculation change
This policy change is intended to more accurately reflect patient sensitization.
Changes to HLA and unacceptable antigen options in effect
Updates to HLA typing and unacceptable antigen reporting options and equivalencies are now in effect.
Action required: KPD eligibility impacted by new HLA options
KPD programs must add DPA1 test results before Sept. 8.
Winter 2023 public comment is open Jan. 19 - March 15. Watch videos and Add your voice
The U.S. surpassed 1 million transplants in 2022
The gifts of generous donors and their courageous families made several lifesaving transplant records possible.
Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes