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Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc. (TRIO) Supports the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Revision of the OPTN Final Rule Amendments

Contact: TRIO, Inc.
202/293-0980

Washington, D.C., October 20, 1999 - The Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc. (TRIO) supports the Amendments for the Final Rule released yesterday by the Department of Health and Services (DHHS). The amended regulations are to be published in the Federal Register today and go into effect 30 days later.

In April of 1998, Congress delayed the Final Rule until October 21, 1999 and ordered the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to research the issue. The IOM released its report in July of this year and supported the regulations that were recommended by DHHS.

Since the delay that Congress placed on the "Final Rule" last April, HHS has conducted many meetings and met with representatives from 11 different groups in the transplant community. The amendments to the "Final Rule" are added recommendations to ensure all people have the same chance of receiving the "gift of life" regardless of where they may live.

Among the key policies that the Final Rule will establish, which IOM and TRIO supported are:

• Requires that the OPTN contractor, currently the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), allocate organs according to "uniform medical criteria, which will be developed by the transplant community."
• To create a broader sharing area to "ensure that organs can reach the patients who need them most."
• Create an "Advisory Committee" which will assist the Secretary in "ensuring that the system of organ procurement and transplantation is grounded on the best available medical science and is as effective and as equitable as possible."

Bruce Weir, TRIO President and heart recipient of 11 years, stated, "TRIO has been a long supporter of what is in these regulations. We support these regulations because they are for the patients and make medical sense." He further commented that "it is time to quit arguing and use that energy to create a system that will increase organ donation."

Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc., founded in 1983, is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life of transplant candidates, recipients, their families and families of organ and tissue donor. With more than 4,000 member and nearly 50 chapters internationally, TRIO works to increase awareness about the need to donate organs and tissues, support and educate transplant candidates, recipients, donors and their families, as well as to advocate on their behalf.

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