The AST continues to strategically engage the new Congress, White House, and stakeholder community regarding the Society’s priorities. As we enter the second quarter of 2025, we have all witnessed significant policy and personnel changes within the new White House Administration and 119th U.S. Congress. These advocacy efforts continue to focus on OPTN Modernization for the future of our patients and the field of transplantation.
The OPTN modernization process led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has introduced much uncertainty and further opportunities to build a more effective, transparent, patient-centered transplant system. As you know, the AST has been at the forefront of these discussions, working closely with policymakers, patients, and stakeholders to prioritize our community. From ongoing meetings with elected officials on Capitol Hill to direct and regular engagement with HRSA leadership, we have advocated for a system that strengthens transplant care and improves patient outcomes. The AST’s OPTN Modernization Task Force and Society leadership respond regularly to emerging and ongoing modernization developments within HHS-HRSA, including many policy recommendations as the agencies continue to move forward.
A couple of the more recent developments include:
U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) recently requested the AST’s expertise again on OPTN Modernization policy topics. The GAO also called upon AST in the past for feedback on immunosuppression coverage and their initial report on OPTN Modernization.
During the recent 2025 Cutting Edge of Transplantation (CEoT) meeting, AST leaders participated virtually in the HHS-HRSA hosted webinar addressing the OPTN Special Election process. Following this meeting, AST President Dr. Jon Kobashigawa and the Society contacted HRSA Associate Administrator Dr. Suma Nair and her team with additional questions and concerns. HRSA’s official responses to AST’s questions were incorporated in a corresponding FAQ document that can be found here.
The AST has been meeting regularly over this last quarter with new and veteran members of Congress and their staff to convey the AST’s priorities for the modernization process.
The AST is planning a Capitol Hill fly-in this spring. AST leadership and transplant patients will spend a day on Capitol Hill meeting directly with members of Congress and their staff to bring attention to ongoing policy matters, including OPTN modernization, currently impacting the organ transplant community.
The AST is meeting regularly with transplant and patient community stakeholder organizations as we continue trailing the OPTN Modernization policy challenges together.
The AST remains vigilant about the challenges ahead, including concerns regarding transparency and governance changes within OPTN. The new Administration’s DOGE cuts and federal workforce reductions have also raised additional concerns and have begun to impact our community directly. We are actively engaged in ensuring that the AST voice remains central to these discussions and that reforms ultimately strengthen - not weaken - the transplant system.
If you have concerns, questions, or thoughts you would like to share, we encourage you to reach out. Your experiences and insights are invaluable in shaping the future of transplantation policy and practice. Together, we will navigate these challenges and continue to push for improvements that enhance the lives of transplant patients everywhere.
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