Highlights
- Today, leaders of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) are meeting with Congress to continue the process of modernizing the US transplant system, improving efficiency, transparency, and technology to better support the more than 100,000 Americans waiting for an organ transplant.
- ASN is advocating for a $67 million appropriation for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Organ Transplant Program in Fiscal Year 2026.
- ASN champions the Honor Our Living Donors Act, a bill to simplify the process by which living donors can have the costs associated with donating a kidney offset.
- ASN is also calling for $25 million in funding for KidneyX to continue to catalyze the development of better preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic tools to manage kidney diseases
News — Washington, DC (March 19, 2025) – Today, leaders from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) will meet with their congressional delegations and call for their support of $67 million in funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Organ Transplantation Program in FY 26. This funding is critical to maintain Congress’ commitment to the more than 100,000 Americans waiting for an organ transplant by implementing the reforms and modernization initiatives of the bipartisan 2023 Securing the US Organ Procurement Network
(OPTN) Act. This year’s funding request also includes $25 million to support the KidneyX program, a public-private partnership between ASN and the US Department of Health and Human Services to catalyze the development of new therapies and products for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for patients with kidney diseases.
“ASN not only advocates for the 37,000,000 Americans living with kidney diseases, but as the world’s largest kidney care professional society, we are proud to represent the countless care partners, researchers, and innovators working diligently to improve kidney care today and find the next breakthrough tomorrow,” stated ASN President Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN. “Improving the transplant system and facilitating access to the optimal therapy for kidney failure is a top priority for ASN. The society is grateful for the bipartisan support we have received from Congress and the administration to elevate kidney care to the top of our health care agenda. Today we are asking Congress to continue the process and renew its commitment to the kidney community.”
There are more than 100,000 people waiting for an organ transplant, including more than 90,000 waiting for a kidney. A kidney transplant is the best therapy for most of the 800,000 people with kidney failure in the US, providing better outcomes for patients and lower costs to Medicare compared to dialysis. In 2023, the US performed 27,000 kidney transplants, yet thousands still wait on the kidney transplant waitlist. “The transformational reforms to the US transplant system called for in the US OPTN Act and implemented through the HRSA OPTN Modernization initiative are just now taking shape,” said Suzanne Watnick, MD, FASN, ASN Health Policy Scholar in Residence and ASN Policy and Advocacy Committee chair. “Now is not the time to scale back our commitment to reform or curtail the initiatives underway to modernize the system. Too many organs are still going unused while people die on the transplant list, and by appropriating funds to continue the work of implementing the Securing the US OPTN Act, Congress can drive improvements that will save and improve thousands of lives.”
As Congress prepares funding legislation for FY 26, ASN is requesting $67 million to continue implementing these and other reforms.
Transforming the transplant system is a top priority of ASN and its members will continue to work with policymakers in Congress and the administration to maximize access to kidney transplantation, which remains by far the best therapy currently available for most Americans with kidney failure, with regard to patient survival, quality of life, and cost of care.
About ASNSince 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has nearly 22,000 members representing 141 countries. For more information, visit and follow us on , , , , , and .
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