Kentucky organ donation organization to appeal HHS decertification

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday began removing the certifications of Network for Hope, a federally-authorized organ procurement organization. The Health Department said it was taking action due to a pattern of safety issues. The organization serves Kentucky, along with parts of Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. The Health Department didn’t say whether it had a new organization in mind to replace Network for Hope.

Network for Hope strongly disagreed with HHS leadership and planned to appeal the decision to decertify its organization, CEO Barry Massa said in a statement online. He defended his organization’s record, saying it was the first to implement a "pause in procedure" process and had worked hand-in-hand with legislators and regulators to draft a new state law and implement regulations.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on Wednesday said the decision to decertify Network for Hope stemmed from the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of life. He directed all other organ procurement organizations to appoint safety officers and report all adverse incidents to federal authorities. While one donor can save up to eight lives, donors and patients deserve better standards, he said.

What safety issues did the Health Department have with Network for Hope?

• Organ donation was approved, but not carried out, in 103 medically concerning instances. That included 73 times when patients with neurological signs incompatible with organ donation were approved to donate.

• Some potential donors might not have been dead at the time officials approved the removal of their organs, according to the Health Department. In one instance, doctors refused to remove the organs of a young man, TJ Hoover, after noticing signs of life, according to HHS. Hoover was already approved for organ donation and was on the operating table at the time, Kennedy said.

• Officials also said they found evidence of poor neurological assessments, questionable consent practices, and wrongly-classified causes of death, particularly in overdose cases.

• Two separate agencies under the Health Department independently determined that after problems were identified, the organization didn’t fix them and failed to meet federal requirements, including the minimum standards to be certified by Medicare, according to HHS. 

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