Honor Our Living Donors Act

S. 957, the Honor Our Living Donors Act, would modify the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program, which currently helps reimburse living organ donors for expenses like travel, lodging, and lost wages related to donation. Under current law, donors can only receive reimbursement if the organ recipient's income does not exceed 350% of the federal poverty level. This bill would change that requirement so that only the donor's income is considered when determining eligibility for reimbursement, not the recipient's income. The bill would also allow donors to receive reimbursement regardless of whether the recipient can pay them back for expenses.

Proponents argue this change would remove a significant financial barrier to organ donation. Currently, living donors may face out-of-pocket costs exceeding $5,000, and the income restriction on recipients can create awkward situations where donors must ask recipients for help with expenses. By expanding eligibility, supporters believe the bill could increase the number of living organ donations, which would help reduce the transplant waiting list and potentially save lives. The bill would also require the Department of Health and Human Services to report annually to Congress on whether the reimbursement program adequately covers donor expenses.