Relates to waiting list for organs

• Democratic17
• Republican9

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why April Baskin says this is needed

Since 1990, New York has maintained a statutory prohibition preventing organ transplant candidates from listing at multiple transplant programs within New York State. Prohibition of this practice, known as "multi- listing," disproportionately affects low-income patients on the organ transplant waitlist and exacerbates racial and ethnic disparities in transplant access. Unlike patients with private insurance - who can circumvent the in-state restriction by listing at additional out-of- state transplant centers Medicaid recipients and the underinsured face significant financial barriers to doing so. Under most circumstances, Medicaid coverage does not permit enrollees to seek non-emergency care outside New York State. This lack of portability, combined with the prohibition on multi-listing, results in unequal access to lifesaving transplant opportunities. Medicaid patients represent 27% of organ tran- splant waitlist candidates but only 15% of recipients, whereas privately insured patients constitute 35% of waitlist candidates yet account for 37% of transplants performed - Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN) data as of February 2025. New York's outdated ban also contradicts national standards established by OPTN. Specifically, OPTN policies 3.2 (Notifying Patients of their Options) and 3.4 (Multiple Transplant Program Registrations) explicitly encourage multiple listings to improve patient outcomes, mandating tran- splant centers inform patients about their rights to register at multi- ple centers within the same Donation Service Area (DSA) or different DSAs. By denying patients this right, New York's current system under- mines patient autonomy and restricts individuals from making filly informed healthcare decisions. Repealing New York State's ban on multi- listing would significantly improve patient outcomes. Multi-listing substantially increases the likelihood of receiving a transplant. Kidney candidates experience transplant rates 1.42 to 2.29 times higher, while liver candidates see even more dramatic increases ranging from 1.82 to 7.41 times those of single listed candidates. Additionally, multi-listed kidney candidates receive transplants faster, with median wait times reduced from 6 years to 3.48 years. This reduction in wait times also leads to lower mortality rates; multi-listed kidney candidates experi- ence a 19% lower mortality rate while awaiting transplantation compared to single-listed candidates. Moreover, multi-listed kidney recipients have a 10% lower risk of graft failure, translating into improved long- term health outcomes and quality of life. After more than three decades, it is time for New York State policy to reflect current national standards and evidence-based practices. Repealing New York's outdated ban on multi-listing promotes fairness, reduced disparities affecting vulnerable populations, and aligns state policy with ethical principles advocated by OPTN guidelines. By elimi- nating barriers to access and empowering patient choice, this legis- lation ensures that access to critical care is a right available equit- ably across all population - not a privilege reserved for those with greater financial means.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.