Wyden Statement on HRSA Announcement Breaking Up Monopoly Contract for Organ Procurement Oversight

Washington, D.C. — Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement today after the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced its intent to issue multiple contracts for the organ procurement and transplantation network (OPTN) contract, an important step towards breaking up a longstanding monopoly contract held by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS):

“Today’s announcement is a big victory for families across the country who have been fighting for a more effective organ procurement and transplantation system,” Wyden said. “For too long it’s been clear that UNOS has fallen short of the requirements for this contract and the expectations of Americans waiting for a transplant. I’m pleased that the Biden administration has adopted the committee’s bipartisan recommendations to increase competition for this contract to encourage higher performance and better results. I look forward to working on a bipartisan basis on any additional legislative steps necessary to ensure the U.S. organ procurement and transplantation system lives up to the high standards Americans expect.”

Last year, the Finance Committee held a hearing to examine organization failures in the U.S. organ procurement and transplantation system. As a part of that hearing, staff released a comprehensive review of this issue, including recommendations for improving the system moving forward.

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