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Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
7/23/2025, 2:15 AM
Summary of Bill HR 1520
The legislation prohibits transplant centers and organ procurement organizations from discriminating against individuals with disabilities when determining eligibility for organ transplants. It also requires these entities to consider the individual's overall health and ability to benefit from the transplant, rather than focusing solely on their disability.
Furthermore, the bill mandates that transplant centers provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access to transplant evaluations and procedures. This includes providing communication assistance, physical accommodations, and other necessary support services. Overall, Bill 119 HR 1520 aims to promote fairness and equality in the organ transplant process by prohibiting discrimination based on mental or physical disabilities. It seeks to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their disability status, have an equal opportunity to receive life-saving organ transplants.
Congressional Summary of HR 1520
Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
This bill expressly prohibits health care providers and other entities involved in matching donated organs with recipients from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely on the basis of the individual's disability, except in limited circumstances.
Specifically, these entities may consider an individual's disability when making decisions about transplants only if a physician finds, based on an individualized evaluation, that the individual's physical or mental disability is medically significant to the provision of the transplant. A disability shall not be considered medically significant if the individual has an adequate support system in place to comply with transplant-related medical requirements.
These entities must also make reasonable changes to their policies to make transplants and related care more available to individuals with disabilities.
Aggrieved individuals may bring claims of discrimination to the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill provides for expedited resolutions of these claims.
In addition, the board of directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network may not issue policies that prohibit or hinder access to an organ transplant based solely on the individual's disability. This network is a public-private partnership linking professionals involved in the U.S. organ donation and transplantation system.
Read the Full Bill
Current Status of Bill HR 1520
Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 1520
Total Number of Sponsors
31Democrat Sponsors
0Republican Sponsors
31Unaffiliated Sponsors
0Total Number of Cosponsors
95Democrat Cosponsors
43Republican Cosponsors
52Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 1520
Primary Policy Focus
HealthAlternate Title(s) of Bill HR 1520
Comments
Dulce Hahn
5 months ago
This bill stops hospitals from denying organ transplants based on disability or age. It's about time!
Jaxon Cherry
5 months ago
This bill prevents discrimination. Who benefits from this?
Arjun Gray
5 months ago
I don't agree with this bill. It could make it harder for people like me to get organ transplants. It says that doctors can't discriminate based on age, disability, or social status when deciding who gets a transplant. But what if someone younger or healthier needs the organ more than me? This bill could put my life at risk.
Wade White
5 months ago
This bill stops hospitals from discriminating against patients based on their organ transplant history. It's about time this was addressed. Everyone deserves a fair chance at life-saving treatment. This bill benefits all Americans who may need an organ transplant in the future.
