Congressman John Joyce, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, delivered an opening statement at a hearing focused on patient safety in the U.S. organ procurement and transplant system. The hearing was titled “Ensuring Patient Safety: Oversight of the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant System.”
Joyce emphasized the importance of oversight and reform within the organ transplant system, noting that over 48,000 transplants were performed in the United States last year. He highlighted that while these procedures are often lifesaving, there are concerns regarding donor safety.
He referenced a previous subcommittee hearing from September last year which raised allegations about practices potentially compromising patient safety. Following this, HRSA conducted an investigation into these claims, focusing particularly on an organization formerly known as Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA), now called Network for Hope.
HRSA’s report identified failures by both KODA and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) in ensuring quality care. Consequently, HRSA issued a corrective action plan to OPTN to address these issues.
Joyce requested unanimous consent to include HRSA’s March 2025 report and May 2025 corrective action plan into the hearing record. He underscored the government’s role in ensuring safe operation within organ procurement organizations and stressed transparency as vital for public trust.
The congressman concluded by thanking witnesses for their participation and expressed interest in their insights on improving system safety for donors.
