U.S. Moves to Save More Lives Through Organ Transplants

More than 100,000 Americans are waiting for organ transplants right now, and thousands die each year before their chance arrives. A new federal plan could change that by making sure fewer donated organs go to waste.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced proposed changes that would increase oversight of organ procurement organizations, the groups responsible for recovering organs from deceased donors and matching them to patients in need. The goal is simple: get more usable organs to people who desperately need them.

The biggest shift focuses on what officials call medically complex organs, typically from older donors or those with certain health conditions. These organs might not last as long as those from younger, healthier donors, but they can still transform lives. A kidney that might not be ideal for a young patient could give an older person years free from dialysis.

Right now, many transplant centers turn down these organs even when they could benefit patients. Some organ procurement organizations have gotten better at recovering these kidneys and other organs, but the system hasn't caught up. Under the new rules, these organizations would need to better track how medically complex organs are recovered and used.

"Every missed opportunity for organ donation is a life lost," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. The proposed rule strengthens accountability and gives officials stronger tools to remove underperforming organizations.

Jeff Trageser, president of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, said he's cautiously optimistic about the changes. To maximize opportunities for getting people off the transplant list, hospitals need to support donation and transplant centers need systems in place to use these organs effectively.

The timing matters. Donations from deceased donors actually fell last year for the first time in over a decade. Just over 49,000 transplants were performed in 2025, only a slight increase from the year before.

The Ripple Effect

When one person becomes an organ donor, they can save up to eight lives through organ donation and heal dozens more through tissue donation. By improving how the system handles medically complex organs, this plan could help thousands of waiting patients each year. It honors both the incredible gift donors give and the desperate hope of families watching their loved ones wait for a second chance at life.

CMS plans to finalize the rule later this year, turning these proposed changes into real action that could save lives.