Republican Senator John Albers knows what he’s talking about when it comes to SB 330, a law he introduced to incentivize organ donation and support donors.
Driving the news: Albers’ legislation is due to have its first hearing in committee this afternoon.
Details: The bill would raise the no-questions-asked tax credit for organ donors from $10,000 to $25,000.
- It would prohibit life insurance companies from penalizing organ donors by refusing or canceling coverage.
- And it would give employers access to a tax credit to offset the cost of missed work for both donors and recipients. This is to prevent donors and recipients from using up their sick or vacation time to recover.
Zoom in: Albers said the total cost to the state for that bill would be $1.7 million. That’s far less than the average $250,000 a year it costs to care for a patient who needs a new kidney or liver, which is eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, Albers tells Axios. Once patients receive a transplant, medical costs drop by 90%.
The big picture: Donate Life Georgia reports that more than 5,400 Georgians are in need of organ transplants.
What’s next: Albers is hoping for smooth, bipartisan sailing for the bill. He hopes to make it “model legislation” for other states to adopt.
And he spreads the word about another problem organ donation faces:
- Although most Georgians list themselves as organ donors on their driver’s licenses, Albers says he’s heard that people often override their deceased family members right now. He wants to encourage families to respect the wishes of their loved ones.
- “Each of us now has the potential to save lives,” he says.
You can login here to be a Georgian organ donor.
