ISHLT Submits Comments on Four OPTN Policy Proposals
In response to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) annual winter call for public comments, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has submitted official comments on four OPTN proposals:
- Establish Comprehensive Multi-Organ Allocation Policy (Read ISHLT's response)
- Clarify Requirements for Reporting a Potential Disease Transmission (Read ISHLT's response)
- Modify Lung Donor Testing Data Collection (Read ISHLT's response)
- Escalation of Status for Time on Left Ventricular Assist Device (Read ISHLT's response)
ISHLT’s responses were thoughtfully developed by the Society’s Advocacy Committee, chaired by Alan Betensley, MD, of Northwestern University, with input from ISHLT’s four Interdisciplinary Network (IDN) Steering Committees and contributions from the broader membership. After thorough review, the final comments were approved by the ISHLT Executive Committee.
The Advocacy Committee plays a crucial role in guiding ISHLT’s engagement with global policy issues, always focused on advancing care and improving outcomes for patients with advanced heart and lung disease.
The OPTN public comment process is an important avenue for all stakeholders, including transplant candidates and their families, to provide input before new policies are finalized and submitted to the OPTN Board of Directors. This feedback loop ensures that a wide range of perspectives shapes the future of organ procurement and transplantation policy. For more information on the public comment process, please visit the OPTN website.
