Indy Standard

On June 7, 2024, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) addressed a letter to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Board of Directors. The correspondence aimed to clarify perceived misunderstandings by the board concerning the implementation of the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act.

“As co-authors and original co-sponsors of the Act, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the law’s intent and what the new statutory language requires,” the senators wrote.

The letter highlighted two main points: “First, combining the Board of Directors with the OPTN is not consistent with congressional intent. Second, the statute in no way implies the OPTN Board is to be independent of the government. In fact, the statute makes clear that all OPTN functions are directly within the purview of HHS as they are carried out under the auspices of awards made by and overseen by HHS,” they continued.

Previously in May, several senators had sent a letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration providing recommendations on how to implement this law effectively.

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