About 12,000 to 15,000 of the 2.1 million yearly deaths in the United States could result in organ donation, but only 5,475 produced donors last year. More than 62,000 people await transplants - 4,000 died waiting last year. The Pennsylvania effort inspired the federal rule, but some worry about other regions' ability to duplicate that success. Not only does the law bring additional paperwork and administrative duties, but it also means hospitals and OPO's will have to work closely together, in some cases for the first time. HCFA is considering the request.
Some hospitals believe they are ready to go.
I don't think it's going to be a huge job. It will take a little more education, reminders that we have to report everything. Some fear all of this effort might go for nothing. The rider attached to the spending bill would forbid the regulation. Rep. Ernest Istook, has said he inserted the rider because he thought it was insensitive to approach a family to ask for organs so soon after a death.