The Kidney Connection: A Look into the World of Organ Donation

Garet Hil's Mission

• Wanted to help his sick daughter
• Couldn't donate a kidney
• Started the National Kidney Registry (NKR) in 2007

The Idea

• Donors who couldn't help loved ones could give to a big pool
• Sick people could find matches faster

Impact

• Helped almost 12,000 people
• Biggest program of its kind
• Many health experts say it's made a big difference

Controversies

• Some doctors worry about NKR's power
• Private company with little government oversight
• Lives are at risk

Financial Concerns

• Charges hospitals big fees
• Some cost goes to taxpayers
• Paid millions to a company owned by Hil
• Sold to a new for-profit company in 2023

Transplant Centers

• About 40% of U.S. transplant centers work with NKR
• Happy with speed and quality of kidney matches
• Wait time is about two months
• Living kidney donations haven't increased much

Matching Process

• Uses a computer program to match donors and recipients
• When donors don't match, NKR has a lot of control
• Gives kidneys to hospitals that contribute the most
• Some doctors say this is unfair

Incentives and Penalties

• Waives fees for some hospitals
• Charges hospitals if they try to back out
• Some hospitals have sued NKR
• Both lawsuits were settled

Voucher Donation Policy

• Donors can give their kidneys right away
• Loved ones can use vouchers to get a kidney later
• Risky for donors
• Some patients have waited years
• A few have died before getting a kidney

Financials

• Brought in $69 million in 2023
• Spent $68 million
• Included $8.2 million to Hil's company
• Sold to a new company owned by Hil

Hil's Statement

• Says it was for the best
• NKR's mission is to save lives