The following bulletin was shared by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network on December 23, 2025:
HRSA has finalized a contract with UNOS to continue key pieces of the OPTN Operations, including the matching system. However, several activities historically supported by UNOS will be separated and competed among additional vendors. As outlined in the OPTN Modernization multi-vendor plan, OPTN patient safety and committee support will no longer be included in the UNOS contract and will instead be competed out in early 2026.
Changes to the OPTN Operations contract were mandated by the Securing the US OPTN Act and reinforced by Congressional hearings highlighting the need for stronger accountability and improved safety oversight after multiple glaring safety incidents and shortcomings reported across the system.
As HRSA has consistently emphasized, protecting patient safety and ensuring fairness within the organ procurement and transplant system remains paramount. HRSA will ensure continuity of all critical patient safety functions during and after the transition period. Although UNOS will no longer support the Membership and Professional Standards Committee (MPSC) after December 29, 2025, all existing patient safety activities and reporting mechanisms will continue uninterrupted beyond that date:
- OPTN members should still report incidents into the Patient Safety Portal. HRSA will now receive these complaints and cases and will investigate them alongside volunteers from the MPSC.
- Anyone can anonymously report allegations of misconduct. Anyone can contact HRSA directly to make an OPTN-related complaint for HRSA to triage and investigate or make referrals to other federal agencies as appropriate. Reports can be submitted directly via email to OPTNComplaints@hrsa.gov, and HRSA has strengthened follow-up procedures to ensure timely review and action. HRSA is also conducting a social media campaign to increase awareness of this reporting channel.
- HRSA is launching OPTN 411 to address all OPTN-related questions and support. This new number will replace the current Patient Services Line and provide one central place to call for help. OPTN 411 will begin service on December 29, 2025, and can be reached at 1-866-OPTN-411 (1-866-678-6411).
HRSA will award new contracts to support patient safety and committee operations in the first few months of 2026. During this transitional period, HRSA will maintain strong oversight and expand internal capacity to manage critical patient safety activities with the rigor, transparency, accountability and care necessary to rebuild trust in the system.
This represents a change from prior service delivery models. Under OPTN Modernization, patient safety is not being reduced or eliminated, it is being strengthened. HRSA will directly manage these functions with clearer accountability, stronger oversight, and more consistent performance than under the prior model.
