H.R. 7581

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7581 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7581

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a 
demonstration program to provide payment under the Medicare program for 
living kidney donor transplant facilitator training.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 13, 2026

Ms. Malliotakis (for herself and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

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A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a 
demonstration program to provide payment under the Medicare program for 
living kidney donor transplant facilitator training.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Living Organ Volunteer Engagement 
Act'' or the ``LOVE Act''.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE PAYMENT FOR LIVING 
KIDNEY DONOR TRANSPLANT FACILITATOR TRAINING.

Section 1881 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i) Living Kidney Donor Transplant Facilitator Training 
Demonstration Program.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall 
establish an 8-year demonstration program under which, for each 
year of the program, the Secretary shall pay to each eligible 
hospital participating in the program for such year an amount 
equal to the reasonable costs of the hospital in operating a 
living kidney donor transplant facilitator training program 
described in paragraph (3) for such year, as determined by the 
Secretary.
``(2) Eligible hospital.--A hospital is eligible to 
participate in the demonstration program under this subsection 
if such hospital is a hospital in which kidney transplants are 
performed.
``(3) Living kidney donor transplant facilitator training 
program described.--A living kidney donor transplant 
facilitator training program described in this paragraph is a 
program operated by a hospital that trains individuals to--
``(A) assist individuals who are entitled to 
benefits under parts A and B of this title and have 
been determined to have end-stage renal disease in 
identifying prospective living kidney donors; and
``(B) assist individuals entitled to benefits under 
parts A and B of this title pursuant to subsection (d) 
in successfully navigating the kidney donation process.
``(4) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive such provisions of 
this title as may be necessary in order to implement the 
demonstration program.
``(5) Reports.--
``(A) Initial report.--Not later than 6 years after 
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report that includes, with respect to the 5-
year period following such date of enactment, the 
following information:
``(i) Any increase in the number of living 
kidney donors, as compared to the 5-year period 
preceding such date of enactment.
``(ii) Any increase in the number of 
transplants conducted using kidneys donated by 
living donors, as compared to the 5-year period 
preceding such date of enactment.
``(iii) Outcome measures for individuals 
that received kidneys from living donors during 
such period.
``(iv) Any cost savings to the Medicare 
program attributable to the increase in 
transplant services and the decline in dialysis 
services, as compared to the 5-year period 
preceding such date of enactment.
``(v) Qualitative information with respect 
to transplants conducted using kidneys donated 
by living donors during such period, as 
determined based on interviews of facilitators, 
volunteers at eligible hospitals participating 
in the demonstration program established under 
paragraph (1), living kidney donors, and kidney 
transplant recipients.
``(B) Subsequent reports.--Not later than 1 year 
after the initial report is submitted under 
subparagraph (A), and annually thereafter for the next 
2 years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report that includes updates 
to the information described in clauses (i) through (v) 
of such subparagraph.
``(C) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Appropriate committees of congress.--
The term `appropriate committees of Congress' 
means--
``(I) the Committee on Ways and 
Means and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of 
Representatives; and
``(II) the Committee on Finance of 
the Senate.
``(ii) Facilitator.--The term `facilitator' 
means an individual who has received training 
under a living kidney donor transplant 
facilitator training program described in 
paragraph (3).''.
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