Sponsors (3)
The bill reduces financial barriers for living organ donors and could expand transplants by providing reimbursements and better data for policymakers, but it increases federal spending and may leave donors exposed to caps, indexing limitations, and short-notice funding reductions while relying on a GAO study that may delay or not guarantee further coverage changes.
Low- and moderate-income living organ donors will be eligible for reimbursements (initially up to $10,000 in FY2027, then indexed), reducing donors' out-of-pocket costs for travel, lodging, and other qualifying expenses.
Hospitals, transplant programs, and patients could see more completed living-donor transplants if financial barriers are lowered, potentially expanding access to transplants and improving health outcomes.
Medicare beneficiaries and their potential donors could gain coverage for donor-related costs if the GAO determines Medicare can pay those expenses, which could reduce out-of-pocket costs for that group.
Taxpayers may face increased federal spending because the bill authorizes 'such sums as may be necessary' for FY2028–2037 to finance the reimbursement program.
Reimbursements could be insufficient or unpredictable for donors: the statutory cap (initially $10,000) may not cover all qualifying expenses, indexing to CPI-U may not track transplant-specific cost growth, and the Secretary can reduce per-donor maximums with short notice if funds are lacking.
Commissioning a GAO study uses federal resources and could delay direct administrative action; the study also risks raising expectations because its findings (e.g., identifying statutory barriers) do not guarantee immediate coverage or funding changes.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Expands and funds the federal living organ donor reimbursement program: raises income eligibility, sets a $10,000 per-donor FY2027 cap indexed to CPI-U, and requires annual reports and a GAO study.
Introduced March 9, 2026 by Suzan K. Delbene · Last progress March 9, 2026
Expands the federal program that reimburses living organ donors for certain expenses by widening eligibility, increasing the per-donor reimbursement cap, authorizing multi-year funding, and requiring annual public reports. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to study whether Medicare could pay costs now covered by the reimbursement program and recommend statutory changes within one year.