S. 2751: Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act

This bill, titled the Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act, aims to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect registration fees from members of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) for each transplant candidate they add to the network's waiting list. The collected fees will be specifically allocated to support the operations of the OPTN.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Registration Fees: The Secretary is permitted to collect registration fees from OPTN members based on the number of transplant candidates they place on the waiting list. These fees will be used exclusively for financing the OPTN's operations.
• Fund Allocation: The funds collected will be classified as discretionary offsetting collections within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This means they can be utilized without the need for further appropriations, ensuring that they remain available until spent.
• Transparency Measures: The Secretary is required to promptly publish information regarding the total registration fees collected from each member of the OPTN. Additionally, the Secretary must provide details about how these fees are used to support the network's activities. This information must be updated quarterly.
• Review Process: Within two years of the bill's enactment, the Comptroller General of the United States will conduct a review of the fee collection activities and report findings, along with any recommendations, to relevant Senate and House committees.

Amendments to the OPTN Provisions

The bill also includes certain amendments to existing provisions in the Public Health Service Act concerning the OPTN. Notable amendments involve updates to the terminology used in describing services offered by the OPTN, such as changing references to "twenty-four-hour telephone service" to "24-hour telephone or information technology service." Furthermore, the OPTN will consider developing a dashboard to display transplant statistics and other relevant information, ensuring increased operational transparency.

Overall Impact

The bill seeks to create a more sustainable funding model for the OPTN through the introduction of registration fees, enhancing the network’s ability to manage organ transplants more effectively while also ensuring accountability and transparency in its operations.

Relevant Companies

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