Federal RuleAug 21
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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-s-1782119th CongressWALLET
Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
Sponsored By: Senator Moody, Ashley [R-FL]
In Committee
Summary
Ban on disability-based discrimination in organ transplants. This bill would create a federal framework that bars covered entities from denying organ transplants or related services because of a disability. It sets clear definitions, requires public comment on eligibility rules, and preserves existing ADA and Rehabilitation Act rights.
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- Patients and families: People with disabilities would be protected from being ruled ineligible, refused referral, or denied placement on transplant lists solely for disability. Covered entities must consider reasonable modifications and provide auxiliary aids before using disability as a reason to deny care.
- Transplant centers and clinicians: Medical and membership criteria must be non-discriminatory and open for public comment. A narrow professional-judgment exception allows disability to influence decisions only after individualized medical evaluation and only when medically relevant.
- Federal oversight and Congress: The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights would handle complaints with expedited resolution and remedies aligned with ADA and Section 504 enforcement. Covered entities must provide annual reports to Congress on complaints, outcomes, and resource needs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban disability discrimination in transplants
If enacted, the bill would ban covered hospitals and transplant programs from denying or delaying organ transplants or related services because of a disability. Covered entities would have to make reasonable modifications and provide necessary auxiliary aids unless doing so would fundamentally alter the program or be an undue burden. Doctors could consider disability only after an individualized medical evaluation and could not require medically inappropriate transplants. Membership and medical criteria for organ allocation would not be allowed to discriminate on the basis of disability and would be open for public comment.
Privacy and existing rights protected
If enacted, the bill would not change HIPAA privacy, security, or breach notification rules. It would not change confidentiality rules for substance use disorder records. The bill would also not take away rights or remedies under the ADA, section 504, or state laws that give more protection.
Faster transplant discrimination complaints
If enacted, the bill would require the HHS Office for Civil Rights to consider transplant-related disability complaints for expedited or early resolution. The Office could order remedies consistent with the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This would give people with disabilities a faster, clearer path to enforcement when transplant access is denied.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moody, Ashley [R-FL]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
MS • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
MO • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov