The Senate Resolution urges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider the implementation of new rules regarding organ procurement organizations (OPOs). These rules, adopted in December 2020, aim to revise outcome measure requirements and establish competitive bidding processes for OPOs, which play a crucial role in the organ donation and transplantation system. The resolution highlights the importance of OPOs in facilitating organ donations and supporting donor families, while expressing concerns that the new rules could disrupt the existing system, potentially leading to fewer organ procurements and transplants, particularly affecting racial and ethnic minorities who already face disparities in access to transplants.

The resolution emphasizes that while the intention behind the new CMS rules is to improve organ donation rates through increased competition and transparency, the actual implementation may create significant challenges. It argues that decertifying underperforming OPOs and requiring competitive bidding could undermine the stability of the organ procurement network, leading to service disruptions and a decrease in available organs for patients in need. The Senate calls for a reconsideration of these rules to ensure that the organ procurement and transplantation systems remain effective and equitable for all patients, particularly those from marginalized communities.