Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
Sponsored By: Representative Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]
Passed House
Summary
This bill would establish a federal ban on disability-based discrimination in organ transplantation and require reasonable modifications and decision-support to help eligible people access evaluation, listing, transplant surgery, and post-transplant care. It ties those protections to existing federal disability and health privacy laws.
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- Patients and families: People with disabilities would be protected at every stage of the transplant process. Covered entities must provide communication aids, supported decision-making, and reasonable policy modifications to facilitate informed consent and follow-up care.
- Providers and transplant programs: Transplant centers and related organizations could not adopt policies or memos that bar or hinder access solely because of disability. Medical decisions may still consider individualized clinical judgments about medically significant risks, but not categorical exclusions based on disability.
- Enforcement and legal framework: The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights would handle enforcement and the bill preserves rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act, and stronger state or local laws. The measure does not authorize new spending.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No transplant denials due to disability
If enacted, transplant centers and providers could not deny you a transplant just because you have a disability. They also could not refuse referrals, services, or a waiting list spot for that sole reason. A doctor could consider disability only after an individualized medical exam and only if it is medically significant. The bill would not require medically inappropriate transplants.
Reasonable supports for transplant candidates
If enacted, covered providers would need to make reasonable changes so candidates with disabilities can get transplants and related care. They would need to offer aids and services unless it is an undue burden or would fundamentally alter care. Your support network could count toward meeting post-transplant care, like help with medicines. The bill would define who is a qualified candidate and what services count to include supports, home and community services (including Medicare or Medicaid), and supported decision-making.
How to enforce transplant rights
If enacted, you could file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights for faster review of transplant discrimination claims. Your rights under the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and the ACA would still apply. The bill would also bar a federal transplant board from issuing policies that block access based only on disability.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]
CA • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Stauber
MN • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
IL • R
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Maloy
UT • R
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2]
IA • R
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Connolly
VA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
OK • R
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov