December 4, 2024  – In an effort to revamp the organ transplantation system, the Biden-Harris Administration, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), finalized a rule launching a new model designed to expand access to kidney transplants. The Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model, a six-year mandatory initiative set to reshape how transplant services are provided, is not just designed to elevate the quality of care. It’s goal is also to make kidney transplants more accessible and efficient across the country.

CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure emphasized the administration’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes. “The Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model will increase the number of kidney transplants that will not only save lives but will enable people to live longer and healthier ones,” she stated. 

Annually, over 130,000 Americans are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, which is a major financial strain on Medicare, accounting for nearly a quarter of its annual expenditure. Kidney transplants, recognized as the most effective treatment for severe kidney disease, not only enhance patients’ quality of life but also significantly reduce medical costs by minimizing the need for dialysis.

The new model addresses several systemic issues within the current framework that fail to meet the needs of patients adequately. Notably, a disturbing 30% of available donor kidneys are discarded each year due to inefficiencies in the existing system, and on average, 13 Americans die daily waiting for a kidney transplant. The Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model seeks to close this gap by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of kidney transplants nationwide.

One of the innovative features of this model is its value-based payment financial incentive structure, which is designed to encourage hospitals to increase the number of successful transplants. Participating hospitals will engage in a two-sided risk arrangement, earning additional payments for exceeding performance benchmarks or facing penalties for underperformance. Performance metrics will focus on transplant volume, organ acceptance rates, and post-transplant outcomes.

CMS plans to include 103 kidney transplant hospitals across various geographic locations and levels of experience with value-based care in this model. These hospitals will be representative of national demographics and are expected to address long-standing disparities in transplant access and outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

For further details on the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model, click here.