National Kidney Registry Improves Donor Lost Wage Reimbursement Program by Eliminating Income Restrictions

GREENWICH, Conn., Nov. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today the National Kidney Registry (NKR) announced the elimination of all income restrictions on their Donor Shield Lost Wage Reimbursement program. Inspired by President Trump's recent Executive Order, the NKR has eliminated the $62,000 maximum income restriction for lost wage reimbursements and will now reimburse all qualified donors up to $1,500/ week in lost wages, for up to 4 weeks. Additional Donor Shield protections include; travel and lodging reimbursement, coverage for uncovered complications, donation disability insurance, donation life insurance, legal support, and prioritization for a kidney should the donor need one in the future.

"We have been using Donor Shield for the past two years to protect every one of our living kidney donors. Many donors and their recipients are unaware of these protections and are relieved to find out about them. Donor Shield has removed significant barriers to living donation, allowing more people to give the gift of life." Stated Dr. Matthew Cooper, Director of the Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute and the NKR Surgical Director.

Dr. Robert Redfield, Associate Director of Kidney Transplant University of Wisconsin, Madison, commented that, "it is great to see the barriers come down for living kidney donation. Not only is this how we will increase living kidney donation, but it is also making kidney donation easier for all and that is a true triumph."

"As a kidney donor myself, I am excited to see many top transplant centers adopting Donor Shield protections for the brave donors who step forward," said Garet Hil, Founder & CEO of the National Kidney Registry. "Donor Shield already covers all NKR donors and has been implemented at 15 transplant centers for direct donation transplants. Donor Shield now protects approximately 1,600 donors per year—which is 25% of all U.S. living kidney donors. Our goal is to reach 100% as soon as possible."

About the National Kidney Registry
The National Kidney Registry (http://www.kidneyregistry.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants while protecting all living donors.

SOURCE National Kidney Registry