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UNOS statement regarding Medicare billing guidance for organ transplant monitoring tests
UNOS statement regarding the Medicare billing guidance on molecular testing for solid organ allograft rejection
UNOS statement on draft OPTN request for proposals
UNOS CEO statement on the draft OPTN request for proposals issued on February 6, 2024
New task force sets bold goal of achieving 60K transplants by 2026
The OPTN Expeditious Task Force embarks on ambitious project to save more lives, increase efficiency.
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Kidney – Pancreas
UNOS statement on kidney continuous distribution policy in development
The OPTN Kidney Transplantation Committee intends for both prior and future living donors to receive the same level of priority for a deceased donor organ in the new framework as they receive in the current allocation system.
National webinar for kidney transplant professionals provides education on OPTN policy action on eGFR waiting time modifications
All programs must comply with the action by Jan. 3, 2024.
Implementation notice: KPD policy updates
The changes impact all KPD programs, including the OPTN Kidney Paired Donation Pilot Program (KPDPP).
Liver – Intestine
Updated National Liver Review Board guidance in effect Jan. 5, 2023
New pathway set for pediatric candidates with cystic fibrosis; guidance amended for candidates with hepatic adenoma and Budd-Chiari syndrome.
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.
Heart – Lung
Coming soon: Reporting primary graft dysfunction in heart
The new data collected will allow for improved monitoring of outcomes for recipients with primary graft disfunction (PGD).
New candidate inactivation code available for multi-organ transplant candidates
The new code (“Candidate requires multi-organ TX only, isolated offers not accepted”) will exclude the candidate from receiving offers of the specified individual organ type(s).
Webinar to address kidney-after-thoracic safety net, combined kidney-thoracic allocation
The webinar will be recorded and made available for later viewing.
VCA
VCA data collection
VCA transplant recipient registration (TRR) and transplant recipient follow-up (TRF) submission mandatory beginning september 1, 2015.
Instructional video explains VCA recovery, allocation and transplant processes
UNOS has created a 14-minute instructional video to familiarize OPO and transplant hospital staff with the basic definition and processes for VCA transplantation.
Board approves policies to support HOPE Act, enhance VCA transplantation
Action will facilitate the transplant community’s participation in the federal HIV Organ Policy Equity Act,
Improving the system together
Improving DonorNet Mobile together
The new mobile-friendly website was developed in partnership with transplant coordinators, administrators and surgeons from across the country.
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.
Sharing images to save more lives
UNOS begins phased release of UNet Image Sharing to organ procurement organizations across the country. See how UNet Image Sharing saves lives!
UNet
Patient Status Confirmation link available in UNet℠ beginning Oct. 2, closes Oct. 23
Transplant programs will be asked to confirm or update patient status for selected patients.
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.
New elements added for reporting primary graft dysfunction in heart
New data elements have been added to the Transplant Recipient Registration (TRR) form in TIEDI® for all adult and pediatric heart and heart-lung patients
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
Changes to security personnel requirements and reporting
Changes to security personnel requirements and reporting to be implemented following policy changes approved by the OPTN Board of Directors.
Improvements to MELD, PELD, Status 1A and Status 1B to take effect July 13
Educational and resource materials are available to support implementation.
Pre-implementation notice: New transplant performance metric to go into effect July 27
A new risk-adjusted pre-transplant performance monitoring metric – the offer acceptance rate ratio – will take effect July 27, 2023.
Policy monitoring
Monitoring report of early kidney data shows increase in transplants
Monitoring report addresses first two months following implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
Updated 12-month monitoring report available for National Liver Review Board
Report analyzes trends in the number and resolution of liver exception requests.
Updated 12-month monitoring report available for liver, intestine policy
The report details key metrics of the acuity circles policy.
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
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Education
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.
FAQ for patients: CPRA calculation change
We’ve put together some frequently asked questions to help patients wondering about the upcoming change.
Effective practices
Learn about collaborative improvement projects
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Perspectives
“The waitlist can’t wait”: Jennifer Prinz on taking a people-first approach during COVID-19
“The donation and transplantation community has had to adapt, all with a clear focus to continue to save lives during the pandemic.”
The road to racial equity in kidney transplantation
Jerry McCauley, M.D. discusses improvement in access to transplantation for minority waitlist candidates and talks about what still needs to be done.
In spite of the pandemic, we’re performing more deceased-donor organ transplants than in years past
UNOS Board of Directors vice president/president-elect Matthew Cooper, M.D., says policies to improve the transplant system must look at the whole picture, not just one part of it.
Leadership news
New board members elected 2022
New Board members begin their terms July 1.
In Memoriam: Vicki Crosier
UNOS commemorates Vicki Crosier for her tireless advocacy on behalf of organ donor families as well as transplant candidates and recipients.
In Memoriam: Robert Veatch, Ph.D.
UNOS honors the life and service of Robert M. Veatch, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of bioethics and a powerful advocate of its application to organ donation and transplantation.
“The dozens of topics presented at TMF shared one thing—our community’s dedication to doing everything we can to constantly improve the system and better serve the patients who rely on us.”
Patient safety
AJT article reports on 10 years of potential donor-derived transmission events
It is very rare for patients receiving transplants to have a donor-derived disease transmission, according to a recently published study.
Public Health Service guidance updated regarding donor screening for bloodborne disease transmission
OPTN to review and revise policies for consistency with updated guidelines.
Special pathogens update
If an organ donor tests positive for carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, coronavirus or influenza, they must be reported in the UNet Improving Patient Safety portal as a potential donor-derived disease transmission event.
Transplant hospital
Public Comment open from July 27 through Sept. 19, 2023
The OPTN is offering 14 items for review.
New candidate inactivation code available for multi-organ transplant candidates
The new code (“Candidate requires multi-organ TX only, isolated offers not accepted”) will exclude the candidate from receiving offers of the specified individual organ type(s).
An important message from the MPSC on reducing risk and ensuring patient safety
The Membership and Professional Standards Committee shares opportunities for improvement with OPTN members.
OPO
New store for OPTN transport labels
The OPTN transport label distributor has changed. Users will need to create a new account when logging in for the first time.
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.
Nominations open for the Lisa Schaffner Community Advocate Award
The award recognizes volunteers, such as living donors, donor family members or transplant recipients, who are promoting organ donation and transplantation with little public recognition.
Histocompatibility
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Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes