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

A father's love sparked a big idea. Garet Hil wanted to help his sick daughter. He couldn't donate a kidney to her. So, he started the National Kidney Registry (NKR) in 2007. The idea was simple. Donors who couldn't help their loved ones could give their kidneys to a big pool. Sick people could then find matches faster. NKR has helped almost 12, 000 people. It's the biggest program of its kind. Many health experts say it's made a big difference. But not everyone is happy. Some doctors worry about NKR's power. They say it's a private company with little government oversight. The stakes are high. Lives are at risk. NKR charges hospitals big fees. Some of that cost goes to taxpayers. For over a decade, NKR was a nonprofit. But it paid millions to a company owned by Hil. In 2023, NKR's commercial operations were sold to a new for-profit company. Now, its finances are less clear. About 40% of U. S. transplant centers work with NKR. Many are happy with the speed and quality of kidney matches. The wait time is about two months. That's much faster than the national waiting list. But living kidney donations haven't increased much since NKR started. Some doctors say NKR is profiting from transplants that would have happened anyway.NKR uses a computer program to match donors and recipients. But when donors don't match anyone, NKR has a lot of control. It gives kidneys to hospitals that contribute the most. Some doctors say this is unfair. They believe the kidneys should be a national resource. Not controlled by a private company. NKR has grown by offering incentives and penalties. It waives fees for some hospitals. But it also charges hospitals if they try to back out. Some hospitals have sued NKR. They say the contracts are unfair. But both lawsuits were settled. The hospitals still work with NKR. NKR has a unique policy called voucher donation. Donors can give their kidneys right away. Their loved ones can use vouchers to get a kidney later. This has helped NKR expand its pool. But it's risky for donors. Their loved ones might not get a match. Some patients have waited years. A few have died before getting a kidney. In 2023, NKR brought in $69 million. It spent $68 million. That included $8. 2 million to Hil's company. NKR's commercial operations were sold to a new company owned by Hil. Some people think this was to benefit Hil. But Hil says it was for the best. He says NKR's mission is to save lives.