Federal Register #2026-19911

Finalized Eligibility Guidelines for Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program

This notice from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), under the Department of Health and Human Services, finalizes new eligibility guidelines for the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP) in response to the Honor Our Living Donors Act. - Government Buyer: - Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) - Division of Transplantation, Health Systems Bureau - Program Details: - LODRP reimburses eligible living organ donors for qualifying non-medical expenses up to $6,000 per organ donated - Covered expenses include travel, lodging, meals, lost wages, child and elder care, pet care, and out-of-pocket medical expenses related to donor evaluation, surgery, and follow-up care - Eligibility Framework: - Eligibility is based solely on the donor's household income, with three priority categories relative to the HHS Poverty Guidelines - A financial hardship waiver is available for donors with household incomes up to 750% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines - Non-directed donors are exempt from recipient-related criteria - Notable Requirements: - The program applies to expenses incurred within two years of donation (or longer in exceptional cases) - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved; this is a policy update, not a procurement - HRSA will report annually to Congress on program funding and reimbursement data - No products or services are being procured; this is a policy and eligibility guideline update

Description

This notice finalizes the guidelines for the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP) eligibility in response to the Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act. The HOLD Act prohibits consideration of an organ recipient's household income in determining a living organ donor's eligibility for reimbursement. The program reimburses eligible living organ donors for qualifying non-medical expenses such as travel, meals, lost wages, and child and elder care, up to $6,000 per organ donated. The notice responds to public comments and establishes a donor-centered eligibility framework with priority categories based on household income relative to the HHS Poverty Guidelines.

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