THE TIMES AND DEMOCRAT: EDITORIAL: NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO DONATE ORGAN

More than 114,000 Americans are on the national wait list for an organ transplant. In 2022,

although 42,000 patients received a transplant, over 68,000 additional patients were added to the

list.

Earlier this year, 2nd District South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-California, introduced the Organ Donation Clarification Act, a

bipartisan bill to reduce barriers to organ donation and increase the supply of organs for

transplantation.

Organ transplantation is governed by the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984. This law

prohibits buying or selling organs for “valuable consideration.”

The Organ Donation Clarification Act would:

• Clarify that certain reimbursements are not valuable consideration but are reimbursements for expenses a donor incurs.
• Allow government-run pilot programs to test the effect of providing non-cash benefits to promote organ donation.
• Clarify that the National Living Donor Assistance Center can’t consider the organ recipient’s income when determining whether to reimburse a donor’s expenses.

More recently, Wilson and Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., introduced the Living Organ Donor Tax

Credit Act. The bill provides a $5,000 one-time refundable tax credit to living organ donors who

were not reimbursed for the costs of organ donation by the National Living Organ Donor

Assistance Center or any entity.

The legislation to foster organ transplants is needed. The nation’s transplant shortage is dire.

Seventeen people die every day waiting for a viable organ, according to the Health Resources

and Services Administration. Currently, there are around 93,000 Americans on the kidney

transplant wait list, with some having to wait as long as six years to receive a transplant.

Patients waiting for a transplant on average cost the U.S. government at least $77,000 a year on

dialysis, which adds up to more than $20 billion a year, according to the Centers for Medicare

and Medicaid Services.

Removing the barriers to organ donation will not only increase the number of living donors

therefore saving lives, but also will save the taxpayers money. The tax credit would apply to

living kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, intestine, bone marrow donors, and any other viable living

organ donation.

“The gift of living donation is truly priceless. The donors who choose the selfless act of giving a

lifesaving organ are making a major life decision, whether gifting to a stranger or a loved one.

That life-changing decision should not be burdened by the costs of donation, and this bill will

remove that disincentive to ensure that everyone is able to donate an organ if they choose to,

regardless of their financial situation,” Wilson said.

“My predecessor House Armed Services Committee Chairman Floyd Spence miraculously

received a double lung transplant as the 30th in the world to receive the experiment, living an

additional 13 years serving America. … Today, I am grateful to expand this piece of Floyd

Spence’s legacy.”

“Living donors should not have their life-saving generosity rewarded with outstanding bills for

lodging, transportation and other donation-related expenses,” said Kevin Longino, chief

executive officer of the National Kidney Foundation, and a transplant recipient. “A refundable

tax credit is a bi-partisan, common-sense measure that will remove financial barriers that

interfere with an individual’s ability to donate a kidney.”

Wilson is due credit for continuously being out front in promoting organ donation. It’s a fitting

tribute to Spence and a service to so many. And, as noted, the efforts make sense for taxpayers.

The Living Organ Donor Tax Credit Act will help make organ donation an easier choice for

many Americans. No one donating an organ to help save a life should have to pay for doing so.

“My predecessor House Armed Services Committee Chairman Floyd Spence

miraculously received a double lung transplant as the 30th in the world to receive the

experiment, living an additional 13 years serving America. … Today, I am grateful to

expand this piece of Floyd Spence’s legacy.”

-- Congressman Joe Wilson

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