3 New Regulations for OPO's

[Guest guest]

*The US

Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) issues

three sets of regulations that will impact organ and tissue procurement and

transplantation practices for the foreseeable future once they are implemented.

The new rules include: Proposed Rule on Conditions of Coverage for Organ

Procurement Organizations; Proposed Conditions: Requirements for Approval and

Re-Approval of Transplant Centers; and Proposed Rules for End Stage Renal

Disease Programs.

The OPO rules propose changes the emphasis

from how many procedures are performed to focus on how well US OPOs perform

each of their mandated tasks. " The changes ensure that each OPO utilizes

best practices to improve efficiency, effectiveness and quality, " the rule

stated. " Our overall goal is to improve the functioning of poor performing

OPOs, rather than to simply terminate them. "

The transplant center regulations place

new emphasis on transplant center's ability to perform successful organ

transplants using state of the art practices to ensure the safety of both

recipients and living donors. " These new requirements are a key element in

our multilevel approach to increasing organ, tissue and bone marrow donation

and assuring the highest quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries who need

transplants, " said CMS Administrator Mark McClellan, MD.

((I really like the new OPO rules, the better job they

do, the more organs for transplant!))

Barb

in Texas - Together in the Fight, Whatever it Takes!

Son (Ken) 31 - UC 91 & PSC 99