Media reports in 2005 and 2006 highlighted serious problems at organ transplant programs, calling attention to possible deficits in fed. oversight. Two agencies oversee organ transplant programs: the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services oversees transplant programs that receive Medicare reimbursement, and the Health Resources and Services Admin. oversees the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which manages the nation's organ allocation system. This report examines: (1) fed. oversight of transplant programs at the time the high-profile cases came to light in 2005 and 2006; and (2) changes that fed. agencies have made or planned since then to strengthen oversight. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.
Media reports in 2005 and 2006 highlighted serious problems at organ transplant programs, calling attention to possible deficits in federal oversight. Two agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversee organ transplant programs: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees transplant programs that receive Medicare reimbursement, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) oversees the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), which manages the nation's organ allocation system. GAO was asked to examine (1) federal oversight of transplant programs at the time the high-profile cases came to light in 2005 and 2006 and (2) changes that federal agencies have made or planned since then to strengthen oversight. GAO interviewed CMS, HRSA, and OPTN officials and reviewed agency documents and data and a CMS draft proposal for sharing information with HRSA.
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives