VCA Committee Update Spring 2015

Recent Public Comment Proposals VCA Data Collection and Submission Widely supported by transplant community Comments received regarding HLA requirements Board review: June 1, 2015 VCA Data Collection and Submission was widely supported during the public comment period last Fall. Comments were received regarding the possible inclusion of HLA testing requirements and role in VCA allocation. The Committee will consider these suggestions and approach the Board in 2015.

Recent Public Comment Proposals VCA Implementation Approved June 23, 2014, effective July 3, 2014 Prior to public comment Required due to OPTN Final Rule amendment Submitted for public comment: Fall 2014 Many comments surrounded the issue of possible living VCA donors Board review: June 1, 2015 VCA Implementation covers numerous policy and bylaw changes that the Board approved on June 23, 2014 in response to a Final Rule change that includes VCA under the definition of “covered human organ”. These included: Organ Definition VCA Allocation VCA Donor Authorization Membership Requirements for VCA Transplant Programs When the Board approved these changes, they incorporated a September 1, 2015 sunset date since they had approved the changes before public comment. The proposal was then released for public comment after the Board took action. Many of the comments surrounded the issue of possible living VCA donors. We are still reviewing these comments, as well as a handful of policy and bylaw exemptions for VCAs, and will approach the Board in June 2015 to repeal, make permanent, or amend these policies and bylaws. The Policy and Bylaw exemptions for VCA were applied in areas that could not be implemented due to timing of the regulatory change in July 2014. Examples of these exemptions includes integration of VCA into the OPTN’s electronic infrastructure; for example the ability to generate a “match run list” for VCAs, or requiring data collection on VCA candidates and recipients. Other exemptions were needed due to the early development of VCA transplantation in the absence of data to enable evidence-based decisions, for example defining “functional inactivity” for a VCA transplant program.

Questions? Sue V. McDiarmid, M.D. Committee Chair SMcDiarmid@mednet.ucla.edu Christopher L. Wholley, M.S.A., NRP, CPTC Committee Liaison Christopher.Wholley@unos.org