Sponsors (4)
This is not an official government website.
Copyright © 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Prohibits organizations that receive grants under the organ donor reimbursement program from considering the organ recipient’s income when deciding reimbursements to living donors, and requires the Secretary to publish an annual report estimating any shortfall in reimbursements and the additional funding needed to cover unpaid qualifying expenses. Also makes minor technical edits to the statute’s text. The bill creates a new recurring December 31 reporting duty for the Secretary to evaluate whether grant funding was adequate in the prior fiscal year to reimburse all donating individuals for qualifying expenses and to estimate the number of donors not fully reimbursed and the extra funding that would be required to cover those shortfalls.
The bill expands and clarifies donor reimbursement eligibility and reporting—improving equitable access and transparency for donors—at the cost of higher potential federal spending and added administrative burdens, with no guarantee Congress will fully fund identified shortfalls.
Low-income and other organ donors: removing the recipient-income test and estimating needed funding increases equitable access and reduces donors' out-of-pocket costs by making more donors eligible and helping ensure grants are sized appropriately.
Congress, taxpayers, and the public: requiring annual data on funding shortfalls increases transparency and gives lawmakers better information to set appropriations and oversight priorities.
Donating individuals in the Section 377 program: clearer information about what unpaid expenses qualify for reimbursement helps participants advocate for higher or more complete reimbursements.
Taxpayers and the federal budget: broader eligibility and publicly identified funding shortfalls could require higher federal spending or reallocation of funds, increasing taxpayer costs or reducing other programs.
HHS, grant administrators, and hospitals: new reporting requirements and expanded reimbursement coverage will impose administrative costs, staff time, and potential budgetary strain on program operators.
Program participants (donors): making unmet reimbursement needs public could raise expectations for immediate funding increases that Congress may not provide, causing frustration among affected donors.
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján · Last progress March 11, 2025