BILL NUMBER: S8260

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to creating a live
kidney donor follow-up study; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

To create a donor follow-up study for New York living kidney donors and
incentivize donor participation through a yearly stipend. Also estab-
lishes health related expenses coverage for all living kidney donors for
five years post-donation.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the public health law by adding a new section 4311,
which establishes the parameters of the New York living kidney donor
follow-up study and directs the Department of Health to contract with a
qualified research team to conduct the study.
              

The study will follow people who donate a kidney between January 1, 2023
and December 31, 2027 for 10 years from the date the transplant surgery
takes place. Each participant in the study will receive a $1,000 stipend
for each year of the follow-up study the individual fully participates
in. Requires the commissioner to submit a report to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and the
chairs of the senate and assembly standing committees on health no later
than December 31, 2023 and each subsequent year thereafter.

In addition, establishes that for the first 5 years post-donation,
kidney donors shall each be entitled to up to 2,000 to pay co-payments
and other health related expenses.

Section 2: Sets effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to a November 15, 2021 report by City & State, Seven thousand
New Yorkers currently need a kidney and at current donation rates, just
1,500 are likely to receive one in the next year. Of the remaining
5,500, around 400 will die. Black New Yorkers, who constitute 18% of the
state population, will make up 36% of these deaths. Alongside this, New
York consistently ranks among the lowest in the nation in terms of
donation of organs, and has the seventh highest kidney waitlist in the
nation per capita.

In light of these harrowing statistics and low rates of kidney donation
in New York State, it is clear that more must be done to increase avail-
ability of viable donors and ensure that all who are in dire need of an
organ transplant can have access to this life-saving procedure.

This legislation will establish a follow-up study specifically for New
York living kidney donors, in an effort to increase both the data the
state has on living kidney donors post-donation and also the rate of
kidney donation through an applied stipend granted per year of full
participation in the study. In addition, this legislation will establish
coverage of up to $2,000 for living kidney donors to pay co-payments and
other health related expenses for up to 5 years post donation.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed January 1, 2038.