Critics of the regulation have mischaracterized its contents, and based upon the mischaracterization, have predicted dire consequences. UNOS and others have inaccurately stated that the regulation calls for a single national waiting list. As such, the Secretary recently wrote a letter to members of Congress to clarify the content and intent of the HHS rule. More patients will need to travel. An analysis of 1994-1995 UNOS data found that one in four patients traveled outside their state of residence to receive a liver transplant.
Patient travel is already a part of the transplant system.
Indeed, equalizing waiting times will remove one of the several incentives for patients to travel to a distant center. Organs will be diverted to large centers . Furthermore, nearly one-third of the transplant recipients at UPMC are status 3 patients, the least sick category. Under the new rule, it is likely that organs normally allocated to these patients will be diverted to more medically urgent patients elsewhere in the country. An additional point raised in Dr. Reyes's testimony is the fact that children awaiting transplantation will be better served under a system that meets the requirements of the regulation.