Washington, D.C. – A recent report has uncovered that contractors working for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made the decision to restrict access to crucial tests for transplant patients, despite recommendations from a panel of expert physicians. The Health Equity in Transplantation Coalition (HEiTC) revealed through a Freedom of Information Act request that these contractors limited access to blood tests, going against the advice of medical experts selected by the government.
HEiTC’s executive chairman, Al B. Sure!, expressed deep concern over the findings, highlighting the detrimental impact this decision has had on thousands of transplant recipients. The limitations imposed on vital blood tests have raised anxiety levels within the Black and Brown transplant community, who rely on these tests to monitor organ rejection.
Despite expert physicians advocating for the importance of early detection through tests, contractors failed to heed this advice and instead significantly reduced Medicare coverage for these screenings in March 2023. As a result, transplant recipients now face difficulty accessing noninvasive tests that could help detect organ rejection before it escalates.
The coalition, founded by music artist Al B. Sure! and the Rev. Al Sharpton, emphasized that the policy change disproportionately affects Black and Brown transplant recipients, who already face significant disparities in healthcare access. Black, Hispanic, and Latino Americans make up a substantial portion of transplant recipients and those on the national transplant waiting list.
The issue has garnered bipartisan concern, with members of the House raising alarm over the rollbacks and advocating for a reversal of the decision. Leading transplant clinicians have also expressed their concerns to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, detailing the negative repercussions of the policy change on organ transplant recipients.
CMS is currently in the process of evaluating whether the cutbacks will be permanent, as stakeholders continue to advocate for greater access to vital tests for transplant patients. The need for early detection of organ rejection remains critical in ensuring the well-being of transplant recipients, particularly within communities facing healthcare disparities.