Transplant Referral

Patients with kidney failure have several different treatment options. One of those options is getting a kidney transplant. This page contains information about transplantation, including living donation, expanded criteria kidneys from deceased donors, podcasts from real transplant patients, and resources that can help patients make the personal decision to begin the journey toward a kidney transplant.

Find a Transplant Center

Find transplant centers in your area and surrounding areas using this interactive map which includes contact information and a link directly to the transplant centers home page. We have also attached a link to assist you with multi-listing at centers out of your area and surrounding areas.

Getting Your Kidney Offer 4-Part Video Series Now Available

• Why Kidney Transplant and How Do I Get on the List?
• Finding Your Match
• Behind the Scenes…What Goes Into Finding Your Kidney
• Why Should I Consider Increased Risk Kidneys?

Change Package Newsletters

• May 2021
• April 2021
• March 2021
• February 2021
• January 2021
• December 2020

A Patient’s Journey Through ESRD

Being diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease can be both scary and confusing. However, with proper education and guidance the transition can be much smoother. This two-part podcast series takes you through a patient’s experience of crashing into dialysis and the journey to transplant. Download the podcast outline for more information on this series.

• Introduction
• Crashing Into Dialysis
  • Before ESRD
  • Support
  • Starting Dialysis
  • In The Unit
  • Resources

• Journey to Transplant
  • Advocating for Yourself
  • Staying Connected and Supported After Your Transplant Workup
  • Be Open to Learn More About Kidney Disease

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) are proud to announce the new ETCLC. The ETCLC went live on August 20, 2021 under the CMS Technical Assistance, Quality Improvement, and Learning (TAQIL) contract. To accomplish the goals of the Advancing American Kidney Health initiative CMS created the ETC payment model which encourages preventative kidney care, home dialysis, and kidney transplants. The ETC Learning Collaborative was finalized in the ETC Model Final Rule in September 2020. The ETCLC supports this work which is based on the success of the HRSA Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative and the recent Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Collaborative Innovation and Improvement Network, or COIIN, effort.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a National Transplant Program including kidney and kidney-pancreas transplants. All veterans enrolled for care in the VA system are eligible for consideration for transplant services.

The transplant referral process has several steps and begins at the primary VA medical center where the Veteran is enrolled and eligibility is determined. To learn more visit the VA National Transplant Program section of their website.

Six VA Medical Centers offer kidney and/or kidney-pancreas transplants:

• Bronx, NY
• Birmingham, AL
• Iowa City, IA
• Nashville, TN
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Portland, OR