CMS Releases Rule That Revamps Organ Transplant Distribution

The Washington Post: Trump Administration Finalizes Rule That Could Make Thousands More Organs Available For Transplant
The Trump administration has finalized major reforms in the way organs are collected and distributed for transplant, an effort aimed at making thousands more kidneys, livers, hearts and lungs available to the lengthy list of people waiting for them. The changes, announced Friday evening, are aimed primarily at “organ procurement organizations,” the government-chartered network of 58 nonprofits that collects organs from deceased donors and rushes them to surgeons at transplant centers. (Kindy and Bernstein, 11/21)

Modern Healthcare: New Quality Measures For Organ Transplantation Finalized
The rule updates the Organ Procurement Organization Conditions for Coverage needed to be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. The final rule is designed to help the more than 100,000 people in the U.S. on a waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant, according to CMS. The rule creates two new objective measures designed to increase incentives to use all available organs and to actually transplant them. One measures the number of organs an OPO has gotten from eligible donors in its donation service area. The other measures the rate of transplantation as opposed to procurement of the organs alone. The previous measures created a disincentive to go after all available organs. (11/20)

In other Trump administration developments —

The Washington Post: Palm Center Study: Transgender Ban Hurt Military Readiness 
President Trump’s order banning many transgender people from serving has eroded the military’s ability to fight and win wars by narrowing its recruiting pool and lowering morale among transgender troops exempt from the policy, former top military physicians said in a study. Defense Department regulations implemented April 12, 2019, prohibit anyone with gender dysphoria from enlisting but allow transgender service members who were serving before then to remain in uniform. (Horton, 11/22)

Modern Healthcare: Physician Groups See Problems With Trump Administration's Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Changes
The Trump administration on Friday signed off on long-awaited changes to physician self-referral and anti-kickback rules that aim to boost value-based care by making it easier for providers, suppliers and others to work together. During an exclusive interview with Modern Healthcare ahead of the announcement, HHS Secretary Alex Azar and HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan discussed how the changes could affect the healthcare industry. (Brady, 11/20)

Also —

CNN: Donald Trump Jr. Tests Positive For Coronavirus 
Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump's eldest son, has tested positive for the coronavirus, a personal spokesman told CNN on Friday. "Don tested positive at the start of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin since the result," the spokesman said. "He's been completely asymptomatic so far and is following all medically recommended COVID-19 guidelines." (Collins and Stracqualursi, 11/21)

Business Insider: Donald Trump Jr. Is Spending His Time In Quarantine Polishing His Guns 
Trump Jr. got tested because he had been planning to go on a trip with his son, he said in the Instagram post. ... His father early Saturday also provided an update on Trump Jr.'s health. "My son Donald is doing very well. Thank you!" the president tweeted. Trump Jr. has been quarantining in his cabin, according to his spokesperson. To pass the time, he asked his Instagram followers for movie and book recommendations. He also said he's going to spend a considerable amount of time polishing his guns. (Dzhanova, 11/21)