DATE: February 26, 2025

Washington, D.C. – February 26, 2025 – The Kidney Transplant Collaborative (KTC) applauds the New York State Department of Health for striving to move forward with the implementation of the Living Donor Support Act, a law introduced last cycle that could dramatically impact the lives of kidney patients and donors. The law will reimburse voluntary kidney donors up to $14,000 for medical expenses, travel, and lost wages—addressing significant barriers to kidney donation, which are often a barrier to living kidney donation.

“We are committed to expanding access to life-saving kidney transplants and supporting living kidney donation,” said Andy Howard, MD, FACP, Co-chair of the Kidney Transplant Collaborative. “We look forward to seeing the Living Donor Support Act fully implemented in New York—and similarly across the nation. KTC will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that all kidney patients and living donors receive the support they need.”

KTC is encouraged by New York’s progress and urges the Department of Health to act swiftly without further delay. Every day, 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant, and each delay in implementation means more lives lost. The Living Donor Support Act provides a vital lifeline to living kidney donors, reducing financial burdens, and making donation more accessible—ultimately helping to save countless lives. It is estimated that the implementation of this law could save up to 100 lives annually at a minimal cost to the state.

While this is an important step forward on the state level, KTC believes such legislation should be available to living kidney donors nationwide and continues to call on lawmakers at the federal level to prioritize similar initiatives across the country, ensuring all living kidney donors have the support they need to save lives. KTC was proud to stand with a growing bipartisan coalition last year—including Representatives Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), and Carol Miller (R-WV)—who advocated for enhanced cost reimbursement at the federal level with the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act. KTC remains committed to supporting this coalition in the future, advocating for the passage of kidney transplant cost reimbursement legislation and urges Congress to act swiftly to get it across the finish line.

For more information on the Kidney Transplant Collaborative’s advocacy and to learn how you can support these efforts, 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.