NEW YORK — New York has new legislation that allows people to be reimbursed for the costs of kidney and liver donations, the nation’s first state program of its kind.
This is thanks to the signing of legislation Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul (S.1594/A.146A) enacting New York State’s Living Donor Support Act.
“There is no greater gift a New Yorker can give than the gift of saving a life,” Governor Hochul said. “Living organ donors are true heroes and with this legislation we are taking significant steps to support their sacrifice and save lives.”
This legislation is intended to help remove barriers to organ donation, in order to move New York out of its low ranking in organ donation among the states. There are currently 8,569 people on a transplant waiting list, of which 7,234 are waiting for a kidney.
How the law works
The “New York State Living Donor Support Act” provides state reimbursement to state residents of living organ donors for medical and associated expenses incurred as a result of organ donation when organ harvesting for donation is performed on another resident of the state state; calls for the provision of transplant information to patients with severe kidney disease.
“I want to thank Governor Hochul for signing my bill into law, New York State’s Living Donor Support Act. By removing financial barriers and educating New Yorkers about living organ donation, this major effort will help reverse low organ donor registration in New York, where we are nearly last in the nation. With increased assistance for those inspired to become organ donors, I am confident this new law will help more New Yorkers give and receive the gift of life,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.
Ana García had a very interesting conversation with Verónica Mora, protector of the patient Montefiore Einstein on the donation of living organs.
