National Organ Transplant Act
PL 98-507 (S.2048), enacted 10/19/1984

PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
98 STAT. 2339 
Public Law 98-507 
98th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for the establishment of the Task Force on Organ Transplantation and the 
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, to authorize financial assist-
ance for organ procurement organizations, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Organ Transplant Act". 
TITLE I—TASK FORCE ON ORGAN PROCUREMENT AND 
TRANSPLANTATION 
Oct. 19, 1984 
[S. 2048] 
National Organ 
Transplant Act. 
42 u s e 201 note. 
Health. 
ESTABUSHMENT AND DUTIES OF TASK FORCE 
SEC. 101. (a) Not later than ninety days after the date of the 42 use 273 note. 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(hereinafter in this title referred to as the "Secretary") shall estab-
lish a Task Force on Organ Transplantation (hereinafter in this title 
referred to as the "Task Force"). 
(b)(1) The Task Force shall— 
(A) conduct comprehensive examinations of the medical, 
legal, ethical, economic, and social issues presented by human 
organ procurement and transplantation, 
(B) prepare the assessment described in paragraph (2) and the 
report described in paragraph (3), and 
(C) advise the Secretary with respect to the development of 
regulations for grants under section 371 of the Public Health 
Service Act. 
Post, p. 2342. 
(2) The Task Force shall make an assessment of immunosuppres-
sive medications used to prevent organ rejection in transplant pa-
tients, including— 
(A) an analysis of the safety, effectiveness, and costs (includ-
ing cost-savings from improved success rates of transplantation) 
of different modalities of treatment; 
(B) an analysis of the extent of insurance reimbursement for 
long-term immunosuppressive drug therapy for organ trans-
plant patients by private insurers and the public sector; 
(C) an identification of problems that patients encounter in 
obtaining immunosuppressive medications; and 
(D) an analysis of the comparative advantages of grants, 
coverage under existing Federal programs, or other means to 
assure that individuals who need such medications can obtain 
them. 
.-;\j ^::-
(3) The Task Force shall prepare a report which shall include— Report. 
(A) an assessment of public and private efforts to procure 
human organs for transplantation and an identification of fac-
tors that diminish the number of organs available for transplan-
tation; 
(B) an assessment of problems in coordinating the procure-
ment of viable human organs including skin and bone; 
98 STAT. 2340 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
(C) recommendations for the education and training of health 
professionals, including physicians, nurses, and hospital and 
emergency care personnel, with respect to organ procurement; 
(D) recommendations for the education of the general public, 
the clergy, law enforcement officers, members of local fire 
departments, and other agencies and individuals that may be 
instrumental in effecting organ procurement; 
(E) recommendations for assuring equitable access by patients 
to organ transplantation and for assuring the equitable alloca-
tion of donated organs among transplant centers and among 
patients medically qualified for an organ transplant; 
(F) an identification of barriers to the donation of organs to 
patients (with special emphasis upon pediatric patients), includ-
ing an assessment of^ 
(i) barriers to the improved identification of organ donors 
and their families and organ recipients; 
(ii) the number of potential organ donors and their geo-
graphical distribution; 
(iii) current health care services provided for patients 
who need organ transplantation and organ procurement 
procedures, systems, and programs which affect such pa-
tients; 
(iv) cultural factors affecting the family with respect to 
the donation of the organs; and 
(v) ethical and economic issues relating to organ trans-
plantation needed by chronically ill patients; 
(G) recommendations for the conduct and coordination of 
continuing research concerning all aspects of the transplanta-
tion of organs; 
(H) an analysis of the factors involved in insurance reim-
: 
i':. 
bursement for transplant procedures by private insurers and 
the public sector; 
(I) an analysis of the manner in which organ transplantation 
technology is diffused among and adopted by qualified medical 
centers, including a specification of the number and geographi-
cal distribution of qualified medical centers using such tech-
nology and an assessment of whether the number of centers 
using such technology is sufficient or excessive and of whether 
the public has sufficient access to medical procedures using 
such technology; and 
(J) an assessment of the feasibility of establishing, and of the 
likely effectiveness of, a national registry of human organ 
donors. 
MEMBERSHIP 
42 use 273 note. 
SEC. 102. (a) The Task Force shall be composed of twenty-five 
members as follows: 
(1) Twenty-one members shall be appointed by the Secretary 
of which: 
(A) nine members shall be physicians or scientists who 
are eminent in the various medical and scientific specialties 
related to human organ transplantation; 
(B) three members shall be individuals who are not physi-
cians and who represent the field of human organ procure-
ment; 
(C) four members shall be individuals who are not physi-
cians and who as a group have expertise in the fields of law, 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
98 STAT. 2341 
theology, ethics, health care financing, and the social and 
behavioral sciences; 
(D) three members shall be individuals who are not physi-
cians or scientists and who are members of the general 
public; and 
(E) two members shall be individuals who represent pri-
vate health insurers or self-insurers. 
(2) The Surgeon General of the United States, the Director of 
the National Institutes of Health, the Commissioner of the Food 
and Drug Administration, and the Administrator of the Health 
Care Financing Administration shall be ex officio members. 
(b) No individual who is a full-time officer or employee of the 
United States may be appointed under subsection (a)(1) to the Task 
Force. A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled in the manner in 
which the original appointment was made. A vacancy in the Task 
Force shall not affect its powers. 
(c) Members shall be appointed for the life of the Task Force. 
(d) The Task Force shall select a Chairman from among its 
members who are appointed under subsection (a)(1). 
(e) Thirteen members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum, 
but a lesser number may hold hearings. 
(f) The Task Force shall hold its first meeting on a date specified 
by the Secretary which is not later than thirty days after the date 
on which the Secretary establishes the Task Force under section 
101. Thereafter, the Task Force shall meet at the call of the Chair-
man or a majority of its members, but shall meet at least three 
times during the life of the Task Force. 
(g)(1) Each member of the Task Force who is not an officer or 
employee of the United States shall be compensated at a rate equal 
to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for 
grade GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, 
United States Code, for each day (including traveltime) during 
which such member is engaged in the actual performance of duties 
as a member of the Task Force. Each member of the Task Force who 
is an officer or employee of the United States shall receive no 
additional compensation. 
(2) While away from their homes or regular places of business in 
the performance of duties for the Task Force, all members of the 
Task Force shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
under sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
SUPPORT 
FOR 
THE 
TASK 
FORCE 
SEC. 103. (a) Upon request of the Task Force, the head of any 42 use 273 note. 
Federal agency is authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any 
of the personnel of such agency to the Task Force to assist the Task 
Force in carrying out its duties under this Act. 
(b) The Secretary shall provide the Task Force with such adminis-
trative and support services as the Task Force may require to carry 
out its duties. 
REPORT 
SEC. 104, (a) The Task Force may transmit to the Secretary, the 42 use 273 note. 
Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, and the 
98 STAT. 2342 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representa-
tives such interim reports as the Task Force considers appropriate. 
Report. 
(b) Not later than 7 months after the date on which the Task 
Force is estabhshed by the Secretary under section 101, the Task 
Force shall transmit a report to the Secretary, the Committee on 
Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives on its assess-
ment under section 101(b)(2) of immunosuppressive medications 
used to prevent organ rejection. 
Report. 
(c) Not later than twelve months after the date on which the Task 
Force is established by the Secretary under section 101, the Task 
Force shall transmit a final report to the Secretary, the Committee 
on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, and the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. The final 
report of the Task Force shall include— 
(1) a description of any findings and conclusions of the Task 
Force made pursuant to any examination conducted under 
section 101(b)(1)(A), 
(2) the matters specified in section 101(b)(3), and 
(3) such recommendations as the Task Force considers appro-
priate. 
TERMINATION 
42 use 273 note. 
SEC. 105. The Task Force shall terminate three months after the 
date on which the Task Force transmits the report required by 
section 104(c). 
TITLE II—ORGAN PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 201. Part H of title III of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended to read as follows: 
"PART H—ORGAN TRANSPLANTS 
Grants. 
42 u s e 273. 
Ante, p. 2339. 
ASSISTANCE FOR ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS 
"SEC. 371. (a)(1) The Secretary may make grants for the planning 
of qualified organ procurement organizations described in subsec-
tion (b). 
"(2) The Secretary may make grants for the establishment, initial 
operation, and expansion of qualified organ procurement organiza-
tions described in subsection (b). 
"(3) In making grants under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary 
shall— 
"(A) take into consideration any recommendations made by 
the Task Force on Organ Transplantation established under 
section 101 of the National Organ Transplant Act, and 
"(B) give special consideration to applications which cover 
geographical areas which are not adequately served by organ 
procurement organizations. 
"(b)(1) A qualified organ procurement organization for which 
grants may be made under subsection (a) is an organization which, 
as determined by the Secretary, will carry out the functions de-
scribed in paragraph (2) and— 
"(A) is a nonprofit entity, 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
98 STAT. 2343 
"(B) has accounting and other fiscal procedures (as specified 
by the Secretary) necessary to assure the fiscal stability of the 
organization, 
"(C) has an agreement with the Secretary to be reimbursed 
under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for the procurement 
42 use 1395. 
of kidneys, 
"(D) has procedures to obtain payment for non-renal organs 
provided to transplant centers, 
"(E) has a defined service area which is a geographical area of 
sufficient size which (unless the service area comprises an 
entire State) will include at least fifty potential organ donors 
each year and which either includes an entire standard metro-
politan statistical area (as specified by the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget) or does not include any part of such an area, 
"(F) has a director and such other staff, including the organ 
donation coordinators and organ procurement specialists neces-
sary to effectively obtain organs from donors in its service area, 
and 
"(G) has a board of directors or an advisory board which— 
"(i) is composed of— 
"(I) members who represent hospital administrators, 
> 3 j-;n i 
intensive care or emergency room personnel, tissue 
banks, and voluntary health associations in its service 
area, 
"(II) members who represent the public residing in 
such area, 
"(III) a physician with knowledge, experience, or skill 
in the field of histocompatability, 
"(IV) a physician with knowledge or skill in the field 
of neurology, and 
"(V) from each transplant center in its service area 
which has arrangements described in paragraph (2)(G) 
with the organization, a member who is a surgeon who 
has practicing privileges in such center and who per-
forms organ transplant surgery, 
"(ii) has the authority to recommend policies for the 
procurement of organs and the other functions described in 
paragraph (2), and 
"(iii) has no authority over any other activity of the 
organization. 
'(2) An organ procurement organization shall— 
"(A) have effective agreements, to identify potential organ 
donors, with a substantial majority of the hospitals and other 
health care entities in its service area which have facilities for 
organ donations, 
"(B) conduct and participate in systematic efforts, including 
professional education, to acquire all useable organs from poten-
tial donors, 
"(C) arrange for the acquisition and preservation of donated 
organs and provide quality standards for the acquisition of 
organs which are consistent with the standards adopted by the 
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network under sec-
tion 372(bX2)(D), 
"(D) arrange for the appropriate tissue typing of donated 
organs. 
98 STAT. 2344 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
"(E) have a system to allocate donated organs among trans-
plant centers and patients according to established medical 
criteria, 
"(F) provide or arrange for the transportation of donated 
organs to transplant centers, 
"(G) have arrangements to coordinate its activities with trans-
plant centers in its service area, 
"(H) participate in the Organ Procurement Transplantation 
Network established under section 372, 
"(I) have arrangements to cooperate with tissue banks for the 
retrieval, processing, preservation, storage, and distribution of 
tissues as may be appropriate to assure that all useable tissues 
are obtained from potential donors, and 
"(J) evaluate annually the effectiveness of the organization in 
acquiring potentially available organs. 
Appropriation 
"(c) For grants Under subsection (a) there are authorized to be 
authorization. 
appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1985, $8,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1986, and $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1987. 
"ORGAN PROCUREMENT AND TRANSPLANTATION NETWORK 
42 use 274. 
"SEC. 372. (a) The Secretary shall by contract provide for the 
establishment and operation of an Organ Procurement and Trans-
plantation Network which meets the requirements of subsection (b). 
The amount provided under such contract in any fiscal year may not 
exceed $2,000,000. Funds for such contracts shall be made available 
from funds available to the Public Health Service from appropria-
tions for fiscal years beginning after fiscal year 1984. 
"(b)(1) The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network 
shall carry out the functions described in paragraph (2) and shall— 
"(A) be a private nonprofit entity which is not engaged in any 
activity unrelated to organ procurement, and 
"(B) have a board of directors which includes representatives 
of organ procurement organizations (including organizations 
which have received grants under section 371), transplant cen-
ters, voluntary health associations, and the general public. 
"(2) The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network 
shall— 
"(A) establish in one location or through regional centers— 
"(i) a national list of individuals who need organs, and 
"(ii) a national system, through the use of computers and 
in accordance with established medical criteria, to match 
organs and individuals included in the list, especially indi-
viduals whose immune system makes it difficult for them to 
receive organs, 
"(B) maintain a twenty-four-hour telephone service to facili-
tate matching organs with individuals included in the list, 
"(C) assist organ procurement organizations in the distribu-
tion of organs which cannot be placed within the service areas 
of the organizations, 
"(D) adopt and use standards of quality for the acquisition and 
transportation of donated organs, 
"(E) prepare and distribute, on a regionalized basis, samples 
of blood sera from individuals who are included on the list and 
whose immune system makes it difficult for them to receive 
organs, in order to facilitate matching the compatability of such 
individuals with organ donors. 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
98 STAT. 2345 
"(F) coordinate, as appropriate, the transportation of organs 
from organ procurement organizations to transplant centers, 
"(G) provide information to physicians and other health pro-
fessionals regarding organ donation, and 
"(H) collect, analyze, and publish data concerning organ dona-
tion and transplants. 
SCIENTIFIC REGISTRY 
"SEC. 373. The Secretary shall, by grant or contract, develop and 
maintain a scientific registry of the recipients of organ transplants. 
The registry shall include such information respecting patients and 
transplant procedures as the Secretary deems necessary to an ongo-
ing evaluation of the scientific and clinical status of organ trans-
plantation. The Secretary shall prepare for inclusion in the report 
under section 376 an analysis of information derived from the 
registry. 
42 u s e 274a. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS RESPECTING GRANTS AND CONTRACTS 
Grants. 
42 u s e 274b. 
"SEC. 374. (a) No grant may be made under section 371 or 373 or 
contract entered into under section 372 or 373 unless an application 
therefor has been submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary. 
Such an application shall be in such form and shall be submitted in 
such manner as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe. 
"(b)(1) In considering applications for grants under section 371— 
"(A) the Secretary shall give priority to any applicant which 
has a formal agreement of cooperation with all transplant 
centers in its proposed service area, 
"(B) the Secretary shall give special consideration to organiza-
tions which met the requirements of section 371(b) before the 
date of the enactment of this section, and 
"(C) the Secretary shall not discriminate against an applicant 
solely because it provides health care services other than those 
related to organ procurement. 
The Secretary may not make a grant for more than one organ Prohibition 
procurement organization which serve the same service area. 
"(2) A grant for planning under section 371 may be made for one 
year with respect to any organ procurement organization and may 
not exceed $100,000. 
"(3) Grants under section 371 for the establishment, initial oper-
ation, or expansion of organ procurement organizations may be 
made for two years. No such grant may exceed $500,000 for any year 
and no organ procurement organization may receive more than 
$800,000 for initial operation or expansion. 
"(cXl) The Secretary shall determine the amount of a grant made 
under section 371 or 373. Payments under such grants may be made 
in advance on the basis of estimates or by the way of reimburse-
ment, with necessary adjustments on account of underpayments or 
overpa3rments, and in such installments and on such terms and 
conditions as the Secretary finds necessary to carry out the purposes 
of such grants. 
"(2XA) Each recipient of a grant under section 371 or 373 shall Records. 
keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe, including records 
which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of 
the proceeds of such grant, the total cost of the undertaking in 
connection with which such grant was made, and the amount of that 
31-194 - 0 - 86 - 38 : 
QL. 3 Part 2 
98 STAT. 2346 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
Audit. 
portion of the cost of the undertaking supplied by other sources, and 
such other records as will facilitate an effective audit. 
"(B) The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United 
States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have 
access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, 
documents, papers, and records of the recipient of a grant under 
section 371 or 373 that are pertinent to such grant. 
"(d) For purposes of this part: 
"(1) The term 'transplant center' means a health care facility 
in which transplants of organs are performed. 
"(2) The term 'organ' means the human kidney, liver, heart, 
lung, pancreas, and any other human organ (other than corneas 
and eyes) specified by the Secretary by regulation and for 
purposes of section 373, such term includes bone marrow. 
42 u s e 274c. 
42 u s e 1395. 
Public 
information. 
Report. 
42 u s e 274d. 
Penalties. 
42 u s e 274e. 
ADMINISTRATION 
"SEC. 375. The Secretary shall, during fiscal years 1985, 1986, 
1987, and 1988, designate and maintain an identifiable administra-
tive unit in the Public Health Service to— 
"(1) administer this part and coordinate with the organ pro-
curement activities under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, 
"(2) conduct a program of public information to inform the 
public of the need for organ donations, 
"(3) provide technical assistance to organ procurement organi-
zations receiving funds under section 371, the Organ Procure-
ment and Transplantation Network established under section 
372, and other entities in the health care system involved in 
organ donations, procurement, and transplants, and 
"(4) one year after the date on which the Task Force on Organ 
Transplantation transmits its final report under section 104(c) 
of the National Organ Transplant Act, and annually thereafter 
through fiscal year 1988, submit to Congress an annual report 
on the status of organ donation and coordination services and 
include in the report an analysis of the efficiency and effective-
ness of the procurement and allocation of organs and a descrip-
tion of problems encountered in the procurement and allocation 
of organs. 
"REPORT 
"SEC. 376. The Secretary shall annually publish a report on the 
scientific and clinical status of organ transplantation. The Secretary 
shall consult with the Director of the National Institutes of Health 
and the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in the 
preparation of the report.". 
TITLE III—PROHIBITION OF ORGAN PURCHASES 
SEC. 301. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly 
acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human organ for valua-
ble consideration for use in human transplantation if the transfer 
affects interstate commerce. 
(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be fined not more 
than $50,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 
(c) For purposes of subsection (a): 
(1) The term "human organ" means the human kidney, liver, 
heart, lung, pancreas, bone marrow, cornea, eye, bone, and skin. 
s: 2-x(,^ t 
•)3 - 
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PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
98 STAT. 2347 
and any other human organ specified by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services by regulation. 
(2) The term "valuable consideration" does not include the 
reasonable payments associated with the removal, transporta-
tion, implantation, processing, preservation, quality control, 
and storage of a human organ or the expenses of travel, hous-
ing, and lost wages incurred by the donor of a human organ in 
connection with the donation of the organ. 
(3) The term "interstate commerce" has the meaning pre-
scribed for it by section 201(b) of the Federal Food, Drug and 
Cosmetic Act. 
21 use 321. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
BONE MARROW REGISTRY DEMONSTRATION AND STUDY 
SEC. 401. (a) Not later than nine months after the date of enact- 42 use 273 note. 
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
hold a conference on the feasibility of establishing and the effective-
ness of a national registry of voluntary bone marrow donors. 
(b) If the conference held under subsection (a) finds that it is 
feasible to establish a national registry of voluntary donors of bone 
marrow and that such a registry is likely to be effective in matching 
donors with recipients, the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Health, shall, for 
purposes of the study under subsection (c), establish a registry of 
voluntary donors of bone marrow. The Secretary shall assure that— 
(1) donors of bone marrow listed in the registry have given an 
informed consent to the donation of the bone marrow; and 
(2) the names of the donors in the registry are kept confiden-
tial and access to the names and any other information in the 
registry is restricted to personnel who need the information to 
maintain and implement the registry, except that access to such 
other information shall be provided for purposes of the study 
under subsection (c). 
If the conference held under subsection (a) makes the finding de-
scribed in this subsection, the Secretary shall establish the registry 
not later than six months after the completion of the conference. 
(c) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 
the Assistant Secretary for Health, shall study the establishment 
and implementation of the registry under subsection (b) to identify 
the issues presented by the establishment of such a registry, to 
evaluate participation of bone marrow donors, to assess the imple-
98 STAT. 2348 
PUBLIC LAW 98-507—OCT. 19, 1984 
mentation of the informed consent and confidentiality require-
ments, and to determine if the estabUshment of a permanent bone 
Report. 
marrow registry is needed and appropriate. The Secretary shall 
report the results of the study to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Labor and Human Resources of the Senate not later than two years 
after the date the registry is established under subsection (b). 
Approved October 19, 1984. 
--s--\r|-'^-rr: 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2048 (H.R. 5580) (H.R. 4080): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 98-575, Pt. 1, accompanying H.R. 4080 (Comm. on Energy and 
Commerce), No. 98-769 accompanying H.R. 5580 (Comm. on En-
ergy and Commerce), and No. 98-1127 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 98-382 (Comm. on Labor and Human Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 130 (1984): 
Apr. 11, considered and passed Senate. 
June 20, 21, H.R. 5580 considered and passed House; S. 2048, amended, passed 
in lieu. 
Oct. 3, House agreed to conference report. 
Oct. 4, Senate agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 20, No. 42 (1984): 
Oct. 19, Presidential statement.