YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesTransparency & AccountabilityTransplant programs could not deny an organ based on disability — and must count support networks when judging aftercare.
Civil Liberties
- Disability protection in transplant access — Denial based on disability barred for covered programs
- Supported decision-making — Recognized as a reasonable modification during transplant evaluation
Transparency & Accountability
- Public comment — Organ allocation criteria opened to public comment
- Annual reporting — HHS must report complaint volume, handling, and results to Congress
- Complaint process — Office for Civil Rights must consider expedited resolution
The details
People with disabilities could not be turned away from an organ transplant because of that disability. Hospitals and transplant programs receiving federal money would be covered. So would public entities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. They could not rule someone ineligible, deny a transplant, refuse a referral, or keep a person off the waiting list on that basis. Doctors would keep room for medical judgment. After an individualized assessment, a covered entity may weigh a disability where federal disability law already allows it. One thing they could not weigh is whether the patient can follow post-transplant care instructions alone. If reasonable support or communication aids would let the patient comply, that counts. Programs would have to adjust their policies unless doing so fundamentally alters the program. The national organ allocation network would face a matching rule. Its medical criteria for distributing organs could not discriminate based on disability. The public would also get an opportunity to comment on those criteria. Complaints would go to the HHS Office for Civil Rights for expedited handling. HHS would report to Congress every year on how many complaints came in and how they were resolved.
Congressional Summary
Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention ActThis bill expressly prohibits organ transplant service providers that receive federal funds and state and local government programs from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants on the basis of the individual's disability, except in limited circumstances.Specifically, these entities may not take into account an individual's disability when providing transplant services, including with respect to eligibility, referrals for services, and placement on waiting lists. Entities must provide reasonable modifications to policies or appropriate auxiliary equipment and services unless doing so changes the fundamental nature of the program or activity involved. Any consideration of an individual's disability must be based on an individualized assessment and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable laws.The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must consider for expedited resolution complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of disability with respect to organ transplant services. HHS must annually report to Congress on complaints received and recommendations to improve enforcement of the bill.In addition, the bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network's policies regarding allocating organs. This network is a public-private partnership linking professionals involved in the U.S. organ donation and transplantation system.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-06-22
- Date Added
- 2026-07-24
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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