TransplantFirst Academy (TFA) takes great pride in bringing an initiative for Living Donor Protections to Arizona’s lawmaker’s ears. Thanks to passionate sponsors, Senators Carter and Brophy McGee, and Arizona’s lawmakers who voted in support of the bill for living organ donor protections, Gov. Ducey signed SB1100 into law last week.
TFA is grateful that living kidney donors in the state of Arizona now have protections that prohibit insurance companies from denying or limiting life insurance, disability and long-term care coverage—or charging higher premiums.
“We celebrate Senator Carter’s and Brophy McGee’s dedication, and Governor Ducey foresight for recognizing the importance of removing barriers to living organ donation,” said Risa Simon, president and CEO of TransplantFirst Academy. Simon proclaimed, “Our nation’s been blessed by the selfless humanitarianism of more than 153,000 living kidney donors who have donated a kidney to save a life—3,200 of whom donated to individuals in Arizona.”
Our nation’s kidney shortage puts the lives of 97,000 people at risk every year—1,800 whom reside in Arizona. The life-threatening wait for a kidney from a deceased donor takes about 5 years. There is no wait, other than qualifying tests and an open operating room, for a living donor to save a life.
Simon says, “Living kidney donors give their recipients hope for better tomorrow by allowing them to receive their transplant when they need it—and before they get any sicker. Recipients rejoice in any and all things that honor their gift of life. This achievement is surely one of them.”