The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) welcomes the recently published final rule by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) setting forth new conditions of coverage for organ procurement organizations (OPOs). The rule published on May 31, 2006, implements the Organ Procurement Organization Certification Act of 2000 and follows the publication of proposed regulations by CMS in February 2005. The nation's 58 federally designated OPOs represent the Donate Life organizations in the US responsible for the identification of donors, and the safe and timely retrieval, preservation, and transport of organs for transplantation. 

As noted by AOPO President Tom Beyersdorf, "It is clear that CMS provided serious attention to the many comments it received regarding its proposed rule published early last year. We had been concerned that donation successes of recent years might have been in jeopardy by the impending rules. However, the focus of the new, final rules on quality and uncertainty reduction for the donation process are right on target." 

The legislation passed by Congress in the year 2000 calls for a four year performance cycle for OPOs, development of new outcome and process performance measures, and less disruption for achieving the work of organ recovery and saving lives. "The CMS rules include many new provisions and other improvements that should sustain and advance national successes in donation," commented Tracy Schmidt, incoming AOPO President. "There remain a few areas in need of further clarification, and some areas of continued attention. We are appreciative that many industry concerns were listened to and addressed." 

In the past two and a half years, in large part due to support and participation by the federal Department of Health and Human Services with its new Breakthrough Collaborative Initiative involving the nation's OPOs and large donor hospitals, record gains in organ donation and transplantation have been achieved. "Active work continues to sustain these increases and we look forward to working with CMS to assure that these rules provide the needed incentives and oversight to make that a reality," said Suzanne Conrad, Chair of the AOPO Legislative Committee.