Western PA Kidney
Support Groups

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_646323.html

Representative Wilson of South Carolina has introduced the Living Organ Donor Tax Credit Act of 2009 (HR 218).  This legislation would offer living donors a tax credit equal to their unreimbursed costs and lost wages associated with the transplant, up to $5,000.  This non-refundable credit would go against the donor’s tax liability rather than resulting in a cash payment to the donor. 

Most dialysis services and kidney transplants are funded by the government through the Medicare program.  Dialysis boasts a hefty price tag of about $71,000 per patient per year.  The cost of a kidney transplant is equivalent to 2-1/2 years on dialysis, but a transplant from a living donor can be expected to last an average of 18 years.  With 78,000 Americans currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, it’s easy to see how this bill would save money and lives. 

It is important to stress that HR218 provide a tax credit to cover donor expenses; it is not compensation for the organ itself.  This budget-neutral stimulus initiative would complement the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Acts (UAGAs), not amend them.  Once enacted, HR218 would restore a donor’s financial wellness in the same way that a donated organ restores a transplant recipient’s health. 

Encourage your congressional representative to co-sponsor HR218--  a stimulus package that actually saves taxpayers’ money while saving lives.

Click here to find contact information for your congressperson:  http://capwiz.com/kidney/directory/congdir.tt