AKF releases 2022 Living Donor Protection Report Card that grades states on performance
The American Kidney Fund released its annual 2022 Living Donor Protection Report Card with updated grades for each state in the U.S. on its protection for living organ donors, calling for federal protection for all donors.
According to the press release, the report card grades states based on the following seven categories: anti-insurance discrimination for life, disability or long-term care insurance; job-protected leave from private employers; job-protected leave from public employers; tax credits for employers who provide paid leave; direct reimbursements, tax credits or tax deductions for donor expenses; paid leave via Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) laws; and extended FMLA leave of more than 60 days.
States that provide no protections for living organ donors receive an F.
Of the entire country, two states earned an A in 2022. Thirty-one states received a B or C, and the remaining 18 states received a D or F. While some states earned higher grades than last year, the average grade on the 2022 Living Donor Protection Report Card is a D.
According to the press release, seven states passed living organ protection laws in the past year and legislation is needed to increase donors in the country. AKF encourages Congress to pass the Living Donor Protection Act, which would bring every state to a grade C upon passage.
“AKF applauds states that have chosen to stand up for the remarkable Americans who make a lifesaving organ donation. We urge all states to continue to pass these important laws,” LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of AKF, said in the release. “A person's ZIP code should not dictate whether they can be a living organ donor. The report card makes abundantly clear that there is a need for federal legislation that will provide nationwide, uniform protections for living organ donors, so that more people can consider giving the gift of life.”
For more information, visit https://livingdonor.kidneyfund.org/.
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