Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act

Bill: 118-hr-2706
Sponsor: Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]
Introduced: 2023-04-19 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Civil actions and liability
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and health-based discrimination
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Public-private cooperation

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-19
text: 

Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act

 
This bill expressly prohibits health care providers and other entities involved in matching donated organs with recipients from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely on the basis of the individual's disability, except in limited circumstances.
 
Specifically, these entities may consider an individual's disability when making decisions about transplants only if a physician finds, based on an individualized evaluation, that the individual's physical or mental disability is medically significant to the provision of the transplant. A disability shall not be considered medically significant if the individual has an adequate support system in place to comply with transplant-related medical requirements.
 
These entities must also make reasonable changes to their policies to make transplants and related care more available to individuals with disabilities.
 
Aggrieved individuals may bring claims of discrimination to the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services or before a federal court. The bill provides for expedited resolutions of these claims.
 
In addition, entities that receive federal contracts to manage all or part of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network may not issue policies that prohibit or hinder access to an organ transplant based solely on the individual's disability. This network is a public-private partnership linking professionals involved in the U.S. organ donation and transplantation system.

action_date: 2024-05-14
text: 

Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act

This bill expressly prohibits health care providers and other entities involved in matching donated organs with recipients from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely on the basis of the individual's disability, except in limited circumstances.

Specifically, these entities may consider an individual's disability when making decisions about transplants only if a physician finds, based on an individualized evaluation, that the individual's physical or mental disability is medically significant to the provision of the transplant. A disability shall not be considered medically significant if the individual has an adequate support system in place to comply with transplant-related medical requirements.

These entities must also make reasonable changes to their policies to make transplants and related care more available to individuals with disabilities.

Aggrieved individuals may bring claims of discrimination to the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill provides for expedited resolutions of these claims.

In addition, the board of directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network may not issue policies that prohibit or hinder access to an organ transplant based solely on the individual's disability. This network is a public-private partnership linking professionals involved in the U.S. organ donation and transplantation system. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-09-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2024-09-23
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-09-23
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5580-5581)
action_date: 2024-09-23
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5580-5581)
action_date: 2024-09-23
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2706.
action_date: 2024-09-23
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5580-5582)
action_date: 2024-09-23
text: Mr. Bucshon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 422.
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-507.
action_date: 2024-05-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-507.
action_date: 2024-03-20
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.
action_date: 2024-03-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2024-03-12
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2024-03-12
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-04-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-04-19
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2023-04-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-04-19
text: Introduced in House