Expanding Support for Living Donors Act of 2026 | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 7868
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 7868Health
Expanding Support for Living Donors Act of 2026
INTRO MAR 9· LAST ACTION MAR 9
READING
7MIN
COSPONSORS
3BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters because it addresses a critical issue: the shortage of organs available for transplant and the financial barriers faced by living donors. Living organ donation offers a vital lifeline to thousands of patients each year, but donors often incur significant out-of-pocket costs and lost income during the donation process, which can deter potential donors.
If this bill becomes law, more people would be able to afford to become living donors, potentially leading to more life-saving transplants and reducing the long waitlists for organs. It also brings greater transparency to how the federal reimbursement program is operating by requiring detailed annual reports, allowing the public and policymakers to better understand its effectiveness, who it serves, and what challenges it faces. Without this bill, financial disincentives for living organ donation would persist, potentially limiting the pool of available donors and the number of successful transplants.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Expands eligibility for reimbursement to living organ donors with household incomes at or below 700 percent of the federal poverty line.
This significantly broadens the number of potential donors who can receive financial assistance, reducing financial barriers to donation.
PROVISION 02
Establishes a maximum reimbursement amount for qualifying expenses, starting at $10,000 in fiscal year 2027, with annual adjustments for inflation.
This provides a clear and consistent cap on financial support for donors, helping them plan and understand the extent of available aid.
PROVISION 03
Updates the funding authorization for the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program to "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2028 through 2037.
This ensures ongoing, flexible funding for the program for a decade, signaling a sustained commitment to supporting living donors.
PROVISION 04
Significantly expands the annual reporting requirements for the program, requiring detailed data on funding, demographics, program impact, and challenges.
This increases transparency and accountability, providing crucial data for evaluating the program's effectiveness and informing future improvements.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill matters because it addresses a critical issue: the shortage of organs available for transplant and the financial barriers faced by living donors. Living organ donation offers a vital lifeline to thousands of patients each year, but donors often incur significant out-of-pocket costs and lost income during the donation process, which can deter potential donors.
If this bill becomes law, more people would be able to afford to become living donors, potentially leading to more life-saving transplants and reducing the long waitlists for organs. It also brings greater transparency to how the federal reimbursement program is operating by requiring detailed annual reports, allowing the public and policymakers to better understand its effectiveness, who it serves, and what challenges it faces. Without this bill, financial disincentives for living organ donation would persist, potentially limiting the pool of available donors and the number of successful transplants.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Expands eligibility for reimbursement to living organ donors with household incomes at or below 700 percent of the federal poverty line.
This significantly broadens the number of potential donors who can receive financial assistance, reducing financial barriers to donation.
high
Establishes a maximum reimbursement amount for qualifying expenses, starting at $10,000 in fiscal year 2027, with annual adjustments for inflation.
This provides a clear and consistent cap on financial support for donors, helping them plan and understand the extent of available aid.
high
Updates the funding authorization for the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program to "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2028 through 2037.
This ensures ongoing, flexible funding for the program for a decade, signaling a sustained commitment to supporting living donors.
med
Significantly expands the annual reporting requirements for the program, requiring detailed data on funding, demographics, program impact, and challenges.
This increases transparency and accountability, providing crucial data for evaluating the program's effectiveness and informing future improvements.
A foundational federal law that established and authorizes many public health programs and services in the United States.
Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program
A federal program that helps living organ donors cover expenses related to their donation, such as travel, lodging, and lost wages.
Poverty line
A measure of income issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services, used to determine eligibility for various federal programs and benefits.
Grant awards
Financial assistance provided by the federal government to an organization or individual to carry out a specific purpose, often for public benefit.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
A measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services, used to track inflation.
Fiscal year
A 12-month period that a government or business uses for budgeting and accounting purposes, often different from the calendar year (for the U.S. government, it runs from October 1 to September 30).
Qualifying expenses
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
MAR 9
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
MAR 9
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Specific types of costs that are eligible for reimbursement under a particular program or rule, in this case, expenses directly related to living organ donation.
Secretary
Refers to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the head of the U.S. government department responsible for public health and social services.
