Organ Donation Trust Under Threat From Flawed Metrics

Organ procurement organizations like We Are Sharing Hope SC are vital for saving lives through organ donation. The organization, serving South Carolina with 157 staff members, has built trust over four decades, leading to a 44% increase in donors and a 37% rise in lives saved since 2022. However, new federal metrics introduced in 2022 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are causing significant concern.

These metrics are criticized for not adequately considering external factors such as population health and state-specific data collection. For a state like South Carolina, this can distort performance evaluations and put organizations at risk of decertification. The fairness of these metrics is currently under federal litigation.

This uncertainty has already led to concerning decisions, such as Prisma Health's request to transfer organ procurement services to a North Carolina system. This move, while not due to dissatisfaction with Sharing Hope, was influenced by the federal metrics. Such a transfer risks redirecting South Carolina's donation resources and creates a potential conflict of interest.

The article urges policymakers to focus on supporting donor families and recipients, using fair and accurate metrics that reflect real-world conditions. Ensuring stability and trust in the organ donation network is crucial for maintaining lifesaving transplant capabilities.