Funding

Organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are responsible for all expenses related to the donation process involving deceased donors. These include inpatient hospital services during the donation, medical evaluations, surgeon fees, laboratory testing, air and ground transportation, and coordination of medical personnel. OPOs may not, however, pay for expenses related to patient care.

Funding for donation activities is obtained from fees charged to the transplant hospitals receiving the organs for their transplant patients. Medicare regulates and audits much of this system, including the amount that may be charged for kidneys sent for transplant. Under Medicare regulations, transplant centers may receive organs only from a federally-designated organ procurement organization.