LOUISVILLE — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Aug. 5 that it is moving to decertify an organization that manages organ donations across Kentucky following claims of “persistent patient safety failures.”
“Americans who choose to become organ donors deserve a system that honors their gift and protects every patient,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a news release. “Organizations that repeatedly fail to meet federal standards and put patients at risk will be held accountable.”
Network for Hope, which is based in Louisville, came under federal scrutiny over a year ago after a whistleblower testified before Congress about a case involving a premature attempt to begin organ retrieval as a patient still showed signs of life. In June 2025, The New York Times reported that officials at the organization “ignored signs of growing alertness” in “dozens” of potential donors.
The Department of Health and Human Services said it was shutting down Network for Hope after multiple federal reviews found patient safety failures that put potential organ donors and transplant patients at risk, despite the organization being provided “repeated opportunities” to fix the failures.
The decertification of the Network for Hope is part of a reform initiative launched by Kennedy in July 2025 after federal investigators identified patient safety concerns in the organ transplant system, according to the news release.
Federal Review Finds Patient Safety Failures
The Department of Health and Human Services said it reviewed 351 cases from 2021 to 2024 in which organ donation was “authorized, but ultimately not completed.”
It also found that 103 cases, or about 29%, contained “concerning features.” According to the department, at least 73 patients showed neurological signs incompatible with organ donation, and some potential donors may not have been dead when the procurement process began.
“Evidence pointed to poor neurologic assessments, lack of coordination with medical teams, questionable consent practices, and misclassification of causes of death, particularly in overdose cases,” the department added in the news release.
After identifying patient safety concerns in 2025, the Health Resources and Services Administration evaluated whether Network for Hope had addressed the deficiencies, while the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reviewed whether the organization continued to meet federal requirements. Both independently concluded that the organization had failed to demonstrate sufficient improvement, which led to the decision to decertify.
Network for Hope Vows to Appeal Decision
In a statement posted on Network for Hope’s website, CEO Barry Massa said the organization “strongly disagrees” with the Department of Health and Human Services’ decision and plans to appeal.
Massa said Network for Hope complies with all Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network policies and has implemented a first-of-its-kind “pause in procedure process.” The policy requires organ donation procedures to pause if signs of life are detected.
“The pause process is now Kentucky law and [Network for Hope] worked hand-in-hand with legislators and regulators by providing input in the drafting both of the new law and its implementing regulations,” Massa said in the statement.
“Despite this, and despite [Network for Hope’s] demonstrated dedication to improving organ and tissue donation outcomes across its service area, Secretary Kennedy has acted to decertify our [organ procurement organization] that serves seven million people across four states,” he added.
Network for Hope is Kentucky’s primary organ procurement organization and also serves parts of Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Massa noted that the decision will negatively affect more than 3,000 people awaiting lifesaving organ transplants.
Reporting by Lillian Metzmeier and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY NETWORK / Louisville Courier Journal. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
