CMS Beats Organ Group’s Bid to Block Transplant Hospital Switch

A federal agency’s decision to allow a transplant hospital group to switch from one organ procurement organization to another will stand after a federal judge said it acted within its statutory authority.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services—engaged in reasoned decision-making and didn’t act arbitrarily or capriciously when it granted Renown Health’s application to change organ procurement organizations, the US District Court for the District of Nevada said. Judge Anne R. Traum granted summary judgment for the agency.

The National Organ Transplant Act is meant to encourage donation and ...