From Lesley Witter, MPA, CAE, Your Federal Lobbyist
Yesterday, the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing titled “Ensuring Patient Safety: Oversight of the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant System.”
The Hearing: A National Spotlight on Donation Oversight
The hearing focused on serious patient safety and oversight failures within the regulated organ procurement system, including improper donor assessments and mismanagement by specific organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Click here to view the hearing agenda, related documents and a recording of the hearing.
While the hearing addressed regulated entities, it also raised broader concerns about transparency, consent and ethical practices – issues that are even more critical in the largely unregulated whole body donation sector. Without federal standards, grieving families are left vulnerable to unethical practices and for-profit body traffickers.
As a result of yesterday’s hearing, Congress is demanding three OPOs provide financial records and other documents following allegations of potential Medicare reimbursement fraud and abuse. The letters to the OPOs follow a public call for information as part of the Committee’s examination into whether these tax-exempt organizations are abiding by the existing laws and regulations that govern them. Learn more here.
NFDA: Leading the Way Toward Ethical, Transparent Donation
NFDA is proud to lead the funeral service profession in championing the passage of the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity (CDRI) Act (H.R. 2589/S. 1270), a bipartisan solution that would finally bring accountability and national standards to whole body donation used for education, research and training.
If passed, the CDRI Act would create a national framework that protects families and honors the dignity of donors by:
- Providing the Secretary of Health and Human Services with oversight and authority over facilities that receive donated human bodies and body parts for education and research; and
- Creating standards for inspection, chain of custody, labeling and packaging, and proper disposition.
Learn more about the CDRI Act at: NFDA.org/BodyBrokerBill.
NFDA has supported this legislation over multiple sessions of Congress and continues to advocate directly with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to ensure that the voices of funeral service professionals are heard and respected on this issue.
While the CDRI Act was not specifically mentioned in oral testimony given during the hearing, NFDA did submit a written testimony for the hearing record, which outlines why passage of the CDRI Act is urgently needed. Click here to read NFDA’s written testimony.
What This Means for You
NFDA recognizes that most OPOs and donation programs do compassionate, lifesaving work, and we respect the trusted relationships many funeral directors have with these organizations.
But, just as we have seen within our own profession, one unethical or mishandled case by an OPO can shake the public’s confidence in the entire donation system as a whole and ultimately affect your ability to guide families with confidence.
As trusted professionals, you play a key role and should:
- Stay informed about the differences between organ and tissue donation (regulated) and whole body donation (largely unregulated).
- Refer responsibly to only reputable, transparent donation programs.
- Support NFDA and your fellow members as we push for meaningful, bipartisan reform of the whole body donation system.
NFDA Will Continue to Lead
As the national voice for funeral service, NFDA is leading the charge to enact smart, ethical and bipartisan reforms that protect families, respect donors and reflect the values of our profession.
We’re fighting for transparency and accountability, and we’re ensuring that funeral service professionals are at the policymaking table, not left on the sidelines.
Thank you for the critical work you do every day to uphold dignity, consent and compassion. We are proud to represent you in Washington, D.C.