Richmond-based UNOS reaches federal contract agreement to continue overseeing organ transplants in U.S.

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the Richmond-based organization that oversees organ transplants in the U.S., has announced that it reached a contract agreement with the federal government to continue its work.

On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, UNOS announced in a statement on its website that it had reached an agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on a contract to continue overseeing organ transplants following the expiration of its current contract.

According to the organization, the new contract will take effect on Dec. 30.

The contract reportedly allows HRSA the option to extend UNOS' work for up to 12 months, until Dec. 29, 2026, with four three-month periods.

"This agreement demonstrates that HRSA still relies on UNOS and its expertise for seamless operation of some of the most critical, patient-facing aspects of the OPTN work – IT operations and data services," UNOS said in the statement.

Despite the contract agreement, UNOS said in the statement that it was "disappointed" that HRSA did not include language in the contract that would "guard against unintended consequences of turning off UNOS’ support of patient safety, member compliance, and policy support work on December 29, 2025."

Under the new contract, UNOS said it does not have the authority to support HRSA or vendors that are selected to take on that work.

UNOS CEO Maureen McBride, who will retire on Dec. 28, shared a quote regarding the contract agreement in the statement.

"We are pleased to partner with HRSA to continue to support the nation’s organ donation and transplant system’s IT and data services without disruption, ensuring patients will continue to receive lifesaving transplants," McBride said. "It’s clear that HRSA considers UNOS a critically important partner in the United States’ donation and transplant system, and that our expertise is fundamentally key to the continued seamless operation of the system."

UNOS said in a social media post back in November that the government owes the organization about $20 million in reimbursement, with more than $13 million past due.

During the federal government shutdown, financial constraints reportedly caused UNOS to furlough and lay off hundreds of employees. The organization also had to pause “much of its critical work,” including some committee work that affected organ allocation and patient care.

Before the shutdown, in July, McBride attended a House subcommittee hearing alongside federal officials, who criticized the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network after multiple glaring issues regarding organ transplantation came to light.