Statement from Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and a transplant recipient, on the introduction of the Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act
(New York City, NY – September 15, 2025) – “NKF strongly supports the Permanent Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) Fee Authority Act. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) ensures dedicated funding to support OPTN operations while improving transparency.
This legislation represents an important step forward in OPTN modernization. It ensures the transplant network has the resources necessary to effectively coordinate and strengthen the infrastructure that serves over 90,000 Americans currently waiting for life-saving kidney transplants. We urge swift passage in both the House and Senate.”
About the Permanent OPTN Fee Authority Act:
- Protects patients from new costs — clarifies that fees are paid by transplant centers, not by patients or families.
- Strengthens the transplant system — creates a reliable funding stream so OPTN can focus on safe, timely, and effective organ allocation.
- Shines a light on the system — requires quarterly public reporting on how fees are collected and spent.
- Makes data accessible — builds a public dashboard so patients, families, and advocates can see real-time information on transplant activity and outcomes.
- Ensures independent oversight — mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review to hold HRSA and OPTN accountable for using funds appropriately.
- Supports the 90,000+ people waiting for a kidney transplant — continues to modernize the system to better serve patients counting on a safe, fair, and transparent process.
About Kidney Disease
In the United States, CKD remains an under-recognized public health burden that impacts 1 in 7 adults, and 90 percent of those affected are unaware of their condition. Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. adults are at risk for CKD, but less than 20% are assessed with guideline-recommended testing, eGFR and uACR. Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history. People of Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander descent are at increased risk for developing the disease. Black or African American people are about four times as likely as White people to develop kidney failure. Hispanic and Native American people experience kidney failure at approximately double the rate of White people.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for the dignity of the patient experience, and dismantling structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. For more information about NKF, visit www.kidney.org.
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Contact:
Paul McGee 716.523.6874
Email: paul.mcgee@kidney.org