Modernizing the Transplant System Through Safety and Transparency

July 2026 update

OPTN Modernization is a coordinated effort to strengthen the nation’s organ donation, procurement, and transplant system through increased transparency, accountability, and innovation. These efforts focus on improving governance, enhancing technology infrastructure, and strengthening oversight to better serve patients, donors, and provider professionals. By updating longstanding systems and policies to reflect current clinical practice and public health needs, OPTN Modernization aims to improve outcomes across the national system.

Key developments this month

• Public Comment Opportunity: HRSA published a Federal Register notice outlining proposed updates to eligibility guidelines for Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program.
• OPTN Policy Process and Committee Support Task Order Awarded: HRSA awarded a new task order to support OPTN policy development and committee operations.
• HRSA Rulemaking in Unified Agenda: HRSA is pursuing rulemaking to improve compliance with OPTN policies.
• OPTN Elects New Secretary and Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs: The new Board members began their term on July 1.
• OPTN National Town Halls: A recording of the National Town Hall, along with summaries of topics discussed, is now available on the OPTN website.
• Updated Living Donor Testing Windows for HIV and West Nile Virus: Beginning Aug. 17, testing for HIV and WNV must be performed as close as possible to organ recovery, but no more than 7 days prior to recovery for living donors.

For patients, families, and the public

Public comment period open for proposed changes to HRSA’s living organ donation reimbursement program

On July 1, HRSA published a 30-day Federal Register notice outlining proposed updates to eligibility guidelines for Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP) to reflect the newly enacted Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act. LODRP provides eligible living organ donors reimbursement for qualifying donation-related expenses, such as travel, lost wages, and dependent care. Per the HOLD Act, eligibility for reimbursement under LODRP will no longer be based on the organ recipient’s income—rather, it will be based on the donor’s financial circumstances. This means more living donors may now qualify for reimbursement from the program.

HRSA awards OPTN policy process and committee support task order

HRSA awarded the OPTN Policy Process and Committee Support Services Task Order to CVP. The award establishes dedicated contractor support for the OPTN policy development process and committee operations as part of the ongoing OPTN Modernization Initiative. The contractor will support policy development, committee operations, implementation, education, and post-implementation monitoring while working closely with HRSA, the OPTN Board, committees, and other OPTN contractors to strengthen coordination across the transplant system.

HRSA proposed rulemaking included in Unified Agenda

HRSA is pursuing rulemaking to strengthen oversight and improve compliance with OPTN policies, while aligning existing regulations with the 2023 Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Act. These efforts build on findings from HRSA investigations, external reporting, and Congressional hearings aimed at strengthening the organ procurement and transplantation system for patients and families.

Operational updates for OPTN members

OPTN board officer election

The 2026 Board Officer election took place between May 15 and 22, 2026. The OPTN Board Officers are the President, Vice President, Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs, Treasurer, and Secretary. Only the Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs and Secretary appeared on this year’s ballot, since the OPTN Board of Directors approved a one-year term extension for the President and Vice President during their April 3, 2026, Ad Hoc Board meeting and the role of Treasurer is elected only in odd-numbered years.

Dr. Kymberly D. Watt was elected as Secretary and William (Bill) Ryan as Vice President of Patient and Donor Affairs. Their terms began on July 1, 2026.

OPTN national town halls

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) hosted two 90-minute virtual National Town Hall meetings on April 28 and May 13, 2026. These sessions provided a transparent, high-level update on OPTN priorities and ongoing modernization efforts to strengthen the transplant system and improve patient outcomes.

Updated testing windows for WNV and HIV in living donors

The required testing windows for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and West Nile Virus (WNV) are being shortened to better align infectious disease testing with the time of organ recovery. Beginning Aug. 17, HIV and WNV nucleic acid testing (NAT) must be performed as close as possible to organ recovery, but no more than 7 days prior to recovery for living organ donors. 

This change reduces the previous testing windows of 28 days for HIV and 14 days for WNV to a uniform 7-day testing window for both infectious disease tests.

Moving forward together

OPTN Modernization continues to advance through coordinated efforts to strengthen governance, modernize operations, and improve transparency across the nation's organ donation and transplant systems. Recent milestones—including expanded contractor support for policy development, proposed regulatory changes to strengthen oversight, continued progress on key policy initiatives, and improvements to data collection and patient safety requirements—reflect steady implementation of a more accountable, responsive, and patient-centered OPTN. As modernization efforts continue, HRSA remains committed to working collaboratively with patients, donor families, donation and transplant professionals, OPOs, transplant centers and other stakeholders to build a stronger organ donation, procurement, and transplantation system that improves public trust and delivers better outcomes for all.