Organization has been foremost voice supporting the model and is committed to helping providers succeed under this approach to improve outcomes for all

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (July 9, 2025) – The Kidney Transplant Collaborative (KTC), today applauded the launch of the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model, which officially began on July 1. Established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the model marks a historic shift in how kidney transplant care is delivered and reimbursed across the United States. KTC has long been an advocate and vocal voice in support of the IOTA Model as it holds the potential to increase access to life-saving kidney transplants for patients nationwide. The model is designed to address the critical shortage of available kidneys for transplant while maintaining high-quality care throughout the transplant process.

The IOTA Model encourages selected transplant centers to form partnerships with key providers in their service areas, including referring nephrologists. These IOTA Collaborators work together to help centers achieve their performance payment goals, with incentives primarily driven by increasing kidney transplants. KTC urges nephrologists and transplant centers who are able to operate under the IOTA Model to pursue such partnerships and to take an active role in expanding access to transplantation.

“KTC has been proud to advocate for the IOTA Model from the very beginning because we believe it represents a real chance to expand access and improve outcomes,” said Dr. Andy Howard, MD, FACP, Chair of the Kidney Transplant Collaborative. “We look forward to supporting providers and transplant centers as they navigate this new, transformative approach and work together to save more lives.”

This new model represents a major step forward in the effort to increase kidney transplant access and to advance innovative strategies to expand the use of living donor kidneys, ultimately saving lives. KTC remains committed to collaborating with hospitals, transplant centers, and healthcare providers to help them thrive under the IOTA Model. Through education, advocacy, and resources, the organization is at the forefront of efforts to drive positive change and improve outcomes for patients waiting and in need of a transplant.

In September of 2024, nearly 50 Members of Congress signed a bipartisan letter in support of the IOTA Model and its goals of improving transplant outcomes, strengthening accountability, and driving innovation across the transplant ecosystem. This Congressional support was a key moment in advancing the model toward implementation.

The Kidney Transplant Collaborative is a coalition leading the charge to advance policies and practices that expand access to kidney transplantation. KTC has been at the forefront of national efforts to increase living and deceased donation, improve transplant center performance, and modernize care delivery.

To learn more, please visit www.kidneytransplantcollaborative.com.

About the Kidney Transplant Collaborative

The Kidney Transplant Collaborative (KTC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing kidney transplants and removing financial and logistical barriers for kidney patients, donors, and their families. Unlike other initiatives, KTC is specifically focused on increasing the number of living donor transplants in the United States through policy advocacy, education, and community organizing. For more details, visit www.kidneytransplantcollaborative.com.