Waitlist Zero: Advocating for Life-Saving Change

Waitlist Zero is working to pass two critical pieces of legislation -

1. The End Kidney Deaths Act, with the Coalition to Modify NOTA

2. The Honor Our Living Donors Act

Click here to visit the End Kidney Deaths Act website.

Over the next decade, we face a critical choice: will we let 100,000 Americans die on the kidney waitlist, or will we save them by compensating kidney donors willing to undergo surgery to save strangers' lives?

Let’s break down the barriers to organ donation and save more lives.

The Crisis at Hand -

• 20 years ago: 65,000 Americans needed a kidney, and 6,000 were living kidney donors.

• Today: 90,000 Americans need a kidney, but the number of living kidney donors remains stuck at 6,000.

Despite the growing demand, the number of living organ donors hasn’t increased in 20 years. Shockingly, we have never had 7,000 living kidney donors in a single year. This stagnation is not due to a lack of willing donors — it’s due to systemic failures in recruitment, reimbursement, and recognition of donors’ contributions.

A Pathway to End the Kidney Shortage

The End Kidney Deaths Act is designed to address these failures and put the U.S. on track to end the kidney shortage that causes 10,000 waitlisted Americans to die each year before receiving a life-saving transplant.

Key Provisions of the End Kidney Deaths Act:

• $10,000 refundable tax credit each year for five years (totaling $50,000) for all Americans who donate a kidney to a stranger.

• A 10-year pilot program to increase the number of living kidney donors and reduce the organ shortage.

• Impact: By the end of the pilot, an estimated 100,000 Americans who would have otherwise died from kidney failure will survive and thrive with a living kidney transplant.

• Economic benefit: Removing 100,000 people from costly dialysis treatments will save up to $37 billion in taxpayer money.

Living Donors Deserve Our Support

Living kidney donors are true philanthropists. They save lives and taxpayer money. These brave individuals endure a physically demanding and emotionally stressful process. Out of every 100 Americans who step forward to donate, only 2 ultimately qualify due to stringent medical requirements. Only those in top health are approved as donors.

Key Facts About Living Kidney Donation:

• Living donation is safe. Living kidney donors actually live longer than the general population.

• Living kidneys are superior. They last twice as long as kidneys from deceased donors.

• Most donors are disqualified. Only 2% of those who apply to donate actually donate.

The Stakes Are High

• 25 people die every day on the kidney transplant waitlist. A living kidney transplant could have saved their lives.

• Dialysis’ deadly toll: Only 40% of people on dialysis survive beyond five years.

• 1% of U.S. tax dollars are spent on dialysis care for over 550,000 Americans.

Our Call to Action

Americans on the organ waitlist are suffering, longing for restored health and longevity. Increasing the number of living kidney donors is the solution.

The End Kidney Deaths Act and the Honor Our Living Donors Act will transform the future of organ donation, save thousands of lives, and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Let’s pass the End Kidney Deaths Act and the Honor Our Living Donors Act to save lives and billions in tax dollars.