Brief⁽¹⁾

H.C.R. 5013 urges members of the Kansas Congressional Delegation to support federal rules and regulations regarding the allocation of organs for transplantation that are currently in effect. The resolution goes on to express support for the system in place under which donor organs are made available on a regional basis through the National Organ Procurement and Transplant Network and, if a recipient is not available in the region, national basis rather than the system of national allocation that would replace the present system if rules and regulations proposed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services were to become effective. The resolution further recognizes a need for objective and consistent criteria for placing potential recipients on the organ transplant waiting lists.

Background

The Health Care Reform Legislative Oversight Committee was asked by the Legislative Coordinating Council to consider organ transplantation as a part of its agenda for the 1998 interim. The Committee concluded the present system of organ allocation is the most desirable for Kansas because Kansas residents very likely will be losers if the regional allocation system now in place were replaced by nationwide allocation lists. The Committee also concluded the present system should be improved to prevent the placing of names on a list for donor organs before the patient is in need of the organ. The Congress enacted legislation late in 1998 delaying any new federal regulations for a year and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work with the United Organ Procurement and Transplant Network in the development of any new regulations.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html.