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Idaho passes landmark legislation to protect living organ donors
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Idaho Governor Clement Leroy “Butch” Otter recently signed landmark legislation that protects living organ donors from potential insurance discrimination.
According to a press release from the National Kidney Foundation, the legislation is the first of its kind in the United States that is designed to stop discrimination based solely on a person’s status as a living organ donor. The legislation prohibits discrimination in the offering, issuance, cancellation, price or conditions of a policy. This includes the amount of coverage provided.
“The National Kidney Foundation applauds bill sponsor Idaho State Senator Cherrie Buckner-Webb and committee leaders in the Senate and House for their efforts in support of organ donation,” the NKF said in a press release. “In 2017, nearly 20,000 Americans received a kidney transplant and one-third of these transplants were made possible by living donors.”
Prior to being approved as a donor, individuals must undergo testing and be in great overall health before being permitted to donate. It was noted in the release that most donors do not experience long-term complications related to organ donation, “therefore insurance discrimination is unjustified.”
The legislation (S. 1302) is modeled after The Living Donor Protection Act, which was introduced in the U.S House of Representatives in March 2017. According to the release, the Living Donor Protect Act would prohibit “discrimination in life, disability or long-term care insurance for living organ donors and add living donation to the Family Medical Leave Act.”
References:
https://legiscan.com/ID/text/S1302/2018