H.R. 330 — Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, to conduct a study on hospitals' existing efforts with respect to electronic automated referrals for organ donation (i.e., electronic systems that identify potential deceased organ donors via clinical criteria in a patient's electronic health record and automatically refer such patients to the hospital's collaborating organ procurement organization). The study must (1) identify savings in staff time, variation in timeliness to determine organ donation eligibility, and potential improvements over human interaction in identifying potential donors attained through such referrals; (2) identify benefits in identifying potential donors through electronic medical records and standardized clinical criteria; (3) review the impact of such referrals—without manual reporting—on donation volumes; (4) assess published peer-reviewed clinical literature on such referrals; (5) review best practices for using such referrals; (6) review information technology practices to ensure secure transmission of referral information; (7) develop recommendations to promote the use of such referrals; and (8) identify actions needed to establish such referrals nationwide. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary must complete the study and submit a report on its results to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means and the Senate Committees on Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.