The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has proposed changes to the geographic regions for liver transplants to better match organ supply with demand and make access more equitable. UNOS proposes establishing eight liver distribution districts nationwide, instead of the current 11, to create a better balance between organ availability and the number of patients waiting.
CHA believes that the current organ transplantation system, which arbitrarily favors certain zip codes and those with financial means, must be reformed to make the process more equitable.
In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell earlier this month, CHA called upon HHS to adopt UNOS’ policy recommendations, which would consolidate the 58 donation service areas into eight sharing districts, with each district containing at least six liver transplant centers and a maximum median transplant-volume-weighted transport time between areas of no more than three hours.