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Medicare proposes new transplant system rules that might spur use of less-than-perfect organs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aims to reduce transplant waiting list deaths by increasing use of medically complex organs and tightening organ procurement oversight.
On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed new rules to tighten safety standards and oversight for the nation's transplant system.
Following last year's decline in deceased donations, rare reports of signs of life during retrievals shook public trust and prompted thousands to remove their donor lists.
Details of the proposal include requiring organ procurement organizations to track medically complex organs and defining 'unsound medical practices', with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz saying, 'Every missed opportunity for organ donation is a life lost,' and Jeff Trageser expressing cautious optimism.
By urging use of medically complex organs, CMS aims to expand offers to older or sicker patients, though many transplant centers often decline such organs despite matching medical criteria.
With finalization expected later in the year, CMS officials did not clarify whether rules would apply to transplant centers or donor hospitals, leaving scope uncertain.