The Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance is pleased to announce the establishment of The Alliance Transplant Payer Collaborative, an innovative initiative designed to foster collaboration among key stakeholders in transplant finance and reimbursement.
The Collaborative serves as a dedicated platform for dialogue, education and engagement, aiming to reduce barriers and advance best practices, ensure fairness and drive optimal outcomes for transplant recipients. By convening payers, transplant programs and healthcare professionals, the initiative seeks to address critical knowledge gaps and enhance cooperation among participants.
“The Alliance Transplant Payer Collaborative marks a significant step forward in improving transplant care, outcomes and fairness nationwide,” said Andrea Tietjen, Assistant Vice President of Transplant Administration at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, and a founding steering committee member of this collaborative. “Filling the knowledge gap between transplant leaders and the payer community is key to stewarding patients through their transplant journey more effectively.”
Core objectives of The Alliance Transplant Payer Collaborative include:
- Facilitating ongoing education and discussions to promote optimal patient care across all types of solid organ transplantation for both adult and pediatric patients.
- Fostering productive dialogue and collective problem-solving among major commercial payers and other essential stakeholders such as CMS, healthcare providers and subject matter experts.
- Encouraging diverse representation by actively rotating member participation to ensure a broad range of perspectives and expertise.
Regular meetings will be conducted virtually, with strategic in-person sessions hosted throughout the year – the first of which will take place at The Alliance National Critical Issues Forum on October 6, 2025 in Atlanta.
The Collaborative will also explore opportunities for collaborative educational offerings, which kicked off on July 22 with an Alliance Conversation Series Program on “Understanding the Payer Perspective: Center of Excellence (COE) Designation and Selection,” led by Dr. Dirk Slaker, Chief Medical Officer of Sonder Health Plans. The on-demand recording of this program may be viewed here.
“When payers and providers unite behind a blueprint for what care should be, we stop measuring success by claims paid or transplant performed,” shared Dr. Slaker. “Instead, we start defining it by lives restored, futures reclaimed, and systems transformed.”
