National Organ Transplant Act

(Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 98-1127) National Organ Transplant Act - Title I: Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplantation - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish within 90 days a Task Force on Organ Transplantation. Directs the Task Force to: (1) examine and advise the Secretary regarding medical, legal, ethical, economic, and social issues presented by human organ procurement and transplantation; and (2) assess immunosuppressive medications used to prevent organ rejections, including considerations of safety, cost, insurance coverage, grants, Federal program coverage, and other means of assuring public access to such medications. Authorizes the Task Force to make interim reports to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees. Requires: (1) an immunosuppressive medication report within seven months; and (2) a final report within 12 months. Terminates the Task Force three months after it submits such final report. Title II: Organ Procurement Activities - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants for the planning of qualifed organ procurement organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the establishment, initial operation, and expansion of qualified organ procurement organizations. Directs the Secretary in making such grants to: (1) take into consideration any Task Force recommendations; and (2) give special consideration to applications from organ procurement organizations which cover geographic areas not adequately served by organ procurement organizations. Sets forth eligibility criteria, including the requirement of an agreement from the Secretary for kidney procurement reimbursement under title XIII of the Social Security Act. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to provide a central registry linking donors and potential recipients; (2) establish a scientific registry of organ recipients; (3) designate and maintain an identifiable unit in the Public Health service to coordinate Federal organ transplant programs and policies; and (4) publish an annual report on the scientific and clinical status of organ transplantation. Title III: Prohibition of Organ Purchase - Prohibits the purchase or sale of human organs if such transfer affects interstate commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for such violations. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Directs the Secretary to: (1) convene a conference to examine the feasibility of establishing a registry of voluntary bone marrow donors, and to determine whether such registry would be effective in matching donors and recipients; (2) establish such a registry for study and demonstration purposes if the conference reaches a positive feasiblility conclusion; and (3) report to the appropriate congressional committees within two years. Requires the Secretary to assure that potential donors have given informed consent prior to being listed in the registry, that their names are kept confidential, and that registry access is restricted.

(Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 5580) Title I: Organ Procurement Activities - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants for the planning of qualified organ procurement organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the establishment, initial operation, and expansion of qualified organ procurement organizations. Sets forth eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1990. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a United States Transplantation Network to provide a central registry linking donors and potential recipients; (2) establish and maintain an organ recipient registry; (3) maintain an identifiable unit in the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate Federal organ transplant programs and policies; and (4) publish an annual report on the scientific and clinical status of organ transplantation. Directs the Secretary to establish a Task Force on Organ Transplantation. Requires such Task Force to: (1) conduct a national conference within six months; and (2) report to the Secretary. Terminates the Task Force 12 months after such report is submitted. Requires the Secretary to make immunosuppressive drugs available, upon request and without cost, to transplant centers for use on an outpatient basis by individuals who have received an organ transplant at such centers. Defines "transplant center" to include centers which have performed at least 25 transplants in any fiscal year, or, in a State not having such a qualifying center, at least 15 such operations. Requires such centers to furnish such drugs to its outpatients on the basis of the center's determination of the patient's need and the patient's inability to pay for them through insurance coverage or other resources. Requires the Comptroller General to report annually to Congress concerning the allocation of such drugs. Requires the Secretary to submit a recommendation to Congress by October 1, 1985, concerning the feasibility and desirability of authorizing reimbursements under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for immunosuppressive drugs on an outpatient basis by individuals who have received organ transplants. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1986. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a registry of volunteer donors of bone marrow within 12 months; (2) assure the confidentiality and informed consent of such persons; and (3) evaluate how such registry is functioning and whether a permanent registry should be established, and report to the appropriate congressional committees within two years after such registry is established. Title II: Prohibition of Organ Purchases - Prohibits the purchase or sale of human organs if such transfer affects interstate or foreign commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for such violations.

(Measure passed Senate, amended) Organ Procurement and Transplantation Act - Title I: Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Establishment - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplantation to develop a national plan for organ procurement and a donor network. Requires a report to the President and the appropriate congressional committees within nine months. Terminates the Task Force one month after such report is submitted. Title II: Facilitation of Organ Procurement and Transplantation - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a private sector Organ Procurement and Transplantation Registry to provide for a national donor-recipient network. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into grants and contracts not exceeding $2,000,000 in any fiscal year. Includes among such Registry's other functions: (1) operation of a telephone matching service; (2) establishing acquisition and transportation quality standards; (3) providing information to the public; and (4) coordinating the distribution of model uniform national organ donor cards. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants (as of 30 days after the Task Forces's report) for the planning, establishment, and initial operation of organ procurement organizations. Defines such an organization as one which: (1) is a nonprofit entity; (2) has the capability of becoming self-supporting; (3) is not an organization providing health care services or carrying out other activities unrelated to organ procurement (except for specified Medicare-reimbursed activities); (4) has necessary accounting procedures and sufficient staff; and (5) has a certain defined service area. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations. Title III: Annual Report on Organ Transplantation - Directs the Secretary to report annually on the scientific and clinical status of organ transplantation. Title IV: Prohibition of Organ Purchases - Prohibits the sale or purchase of human organs in interstate commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for such violations.

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Labor and Human Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 98-382) Organ Procurement and Transplantation Act - Title I: Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Establishment - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplantation to develop a national plan for organ procurement and a donor network. Requires a report to the President and the appropriate congressional committees within nine months. Terminates the Task Force one month after such report is submitted. Title II: Facilitation of Organ Procurement and Transplantation - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a private sector Organ Procurement and Transplantation Registry to provide for a national donor-recipient network. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into grants and contracts not exceeding $2,000,000 in any fiscal year. Includes among such Registry's other functions: (1) operation of a telephone matching service; (2) establishing acquisition and transportation quality standards; (3) providing information to the public; and (4) coordinating the distribution of model uniform national organ donor cards. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants (as of 30 days after the Task Forces's report) for the planning, establishment, and initial operation of organ procurement organizations. Defines such an organization as one which: (1) is a nonprofit entity; (2) has the capability of becoming self-supporting; (3) is not an organization providing health care services or carrying out other activities unrelated to organ procurement (except for specified Medicare-reimbursed activities); (4) has necessary accounting procedures and sufficient staff; and (5) has a certain defined service area. Authorizes FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations. Title III: Annual Report on Organ Transplantation - Directs the Secretary to report annually on the scientific and clinical status of organ transplantation. Title IV: Prohibition of Organ Purchases - Prohibits the sale or purchase of human organs in interstate commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for such violations.

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Act - Title I: Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Establishment - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplantation to develop a national plan for organ procurement and a donor network. Requires a report to the President and the appropriate congressional committees within three months. Terminates the Task Force three months after such report is submitted. Title II: Organ Procurement and Transplantation Registry - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a private sector Organ Procurement and Transplantation Registry to provide for a national donor-recipient network. Authorizes grant authority for such purposes. Title III: Annual Report on Organ Transplantation - Directs the Secretary to report annually on the scientific and clinical status of organ transplantation. Title IV: Prohibition of Organ Purchases - Prohibits the sale or purchase of human organs in interstate commerce. Establishes criminal penalties for such violations.