Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 441.
Official Summary
Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act This 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.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act prohibits federally funded organ transplant providers and state and local government programs from denying or limiting access to organ transplants based on disability, except in narrowly defined circumstances. The bill requires these entities to provide reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids unless such modifications fundamentally alter the program. Disability considerations must be individualized and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and related laws. The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights is tasked with expedited handling of disability discrimination complaints related to organ transplants and must report annually to Congress. The bill also bans disability discrimination in the policies of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, a key public-private organ allocation system.
This bill aims to ensure equitable access to organ transplants for individuals with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination and mandating reasonable accommodations within federally funded and government organ transplant programs.
- Prohibits denial or restriction of organ transplant access based on disability by federally funded providers and government programs.
- Requires reasonable modifications and auxiliary aids unless they fundamentally alter the transplant program or activity.
- Mandates individualized disability assessments consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws.
- Directs the HHS Office for Civil Rights to expedite disability discrimination complaints and report annually to Congress.
- Prohibits disability discrimination in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s organ allocation policies.
['Individuals with disabilities seeking organ transplants', 'Organ transplant service providers receiving federal funds', 'State and local government transplant programs', 'Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights', 'Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network']
['Implementation challenges in defining and applying reasonable modifications without fundamentally altering programs', 'Potential administrative burden on HHS Office for Civil Rights for expedited complaint resolution and annual reporting', 'Costs associated with providing auxiliary equipment and services to accommodate disabilities', 'Ensuring consistent compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws across diverse transplant providers']
The bill is currently in process in the 119th Congress and was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as of June 22, 2026. It addresses disability rights within the health policy area, specifically focusing on organ transplant access and nondiscrimination. The legislation reflects ongoing federal efforts to enforce disability rights in healthcare settings and organ transplantation.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Improved access to organ transplants for individuals with disabilities may increase demand for transplant services.', 'Enhanced enforcement and reporting may lead to greater oversight and potential policy adjustments in organ transplant programs.', 'The prohibition of disability discrimination in organ allocation policies may influence other healthcare allocation frameworks to adopt similar standards.']
The bill assigns enforcement responsibilities to the HHS Office for Civil Rights, including expedited complaint resolution and annual reporting to Congress, which provides transparency and oversight mechanisms. However, the full bill text is not available, limiting detailed analysis of specific enforcement language or funding provisions. Monitoring implementation will be important to assess compliance with reasonable modification requirements and the impact on organ transplant service delivery.
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