New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill AR146

Introduced
6/2/22  

Caption

Urges U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider implementation of new rules concerning organ procurement organizations.

Impact

The proposed CMS rules have raised alarms regarding their potential negative effects on both local organ procurement systems and national transplantation rates. The New Jersey General Assembly emphasizes that existing OPOs are already reliable and effective in their roles, contributing to a significant increase in organ transplants over the years. By enforcing competitive bidding and decertifying lower-performing OPOs, these rules might lead to a fragmentation of services, increasing geographical burdens and ultimately reducing organ availability for patients awaiting transplants, particularly those from marginalized communities.

Summary

Assembly Resolution No. 146, introduced in New Jersey, calls for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider new rules regarding organ procurement organizations (OPOs). These new federal regulations aim to revise performance outcome measures and implement competitive bidding for OPOs, which are vital entities in managing organ donation and transplantation. The resolution highlights concerns that the hastily adopted rules could disrupt the current organ procurement system, potentially decreasing the number of organ transplants performed in the United States.

Contention

Opponents of the new CMS regulations, including advocates for health equity, argue that the changes may exacerbate existing disparities in organ transplantation. Statistics indicate that patients from racial and ethnic minorities receive organ transplants at significantly lower rates compared to their white counterparts. Critics point out that rather than aiding improvements in performance through decertification, a more supportive approach for underperforming OPOs could be beneficial. Many believe that focusing on competitive bidding could distract OPOs from their core mission of improving donation rates and managing relationships within donor service areas.

Companion Bills

NJ SR93

Same As Urges U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider implementation of new rules concerning organ procurement organizations.

Previously Filed As

NJ SR54

Urges U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider implementation of new rules concerning organ procurement organizations.

NJ AR143

Urges U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider implementation of new rules concerning organ procurement organizations.

GA SB428

Medical Assistance; Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; direct

TX HCR103

Expressing support for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's application to the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and its Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

US HJR187

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model".

OK HR1030

Resolution; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

OK HR1030

Resolution; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

RI S1004

Requires the executive office of health and human services to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a state plan amendment for reimbursement for health services in a school.

GA HB1238

Community Health, Department of; submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to authorize the qualification of certain caregivers for Medicaid reimbursement

RI H6308

Requires the executive office of health and human services to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a state plan amendment for reimbursement for health services in a school.

Similar Bills

AZ HB2109

Forced organ harvesting; insurance; prohibition

TX HB4076

Relating to prohibiting organ transplant recipient discrimination on the basis of vaccination status.

US HB2114

Block Organ Transplant Purchases from China Act of 2025

NJ SR54

Urges U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider implementation of new rules concerning organ procurement organizations.

ME LD1055

An Act to Prohibit Discrimination in Access to Anatomical Donations and Organ Transplants

NJ AR143

Urges U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider implementation of new rules concerning organ procurement organizations.

MA H4796

Relative to organ transplant vehicles

IL SB0087

ANATOMICAL DONATION