WASHINGTON – Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s leading kidney care multi-stakeholder coalition representing patient advocates, physician organizations, health professional groups, dialysis providers, researchers and manufacturers – recently submitted comments to the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in response to the “Organ Procurement and Transplantation: Implementation of the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act” Proposed Rule.

A kidney transplant is the only potential curative therapy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or kidney failure, but organ availability continues to be a major barrier to connecting patients on the transplant waitlist with available kidneys. In its comments, KCP applauded proposed new standards that would eliminate the requirement that kidney and liver transplants of HIV-positive organs to recipients with HIV be conducted as clinical research and under the approval of an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This measure would help to improve the availability of organs while also helping to shorten wait times for all patients on transplant lists.

KCP highlighted that these new standards would help address existing health disparities, stating in its letter that “[e]liminating the research and IRB requirements for kidney and live HOPE Act transplants would be an important step to help reduce the barriers to accessing transplants for people of color.” KCP concluded by urging the agency to ensure that its final policy does not make it more difficult for individuals to access needed organs.

“This proposed rule is a major step forward in addressing the challenges that prevent many individuals with ERSD from receiving a kidney transplant,” said Mahesh Krishnan, MD, MPH, MBA, Chair of KCP. “As the nation’s largest kidney coalition, KCP looks forward to working alongside policymakers to ensure a safer, more equitable transplant system.” 

KCP’s full comment letter is available here.