South Dakota House Passes Bill Shielding Organ Donors From Insurance Discrimination
USA: A sharply focused legislative push in the South Dakota House produced a near-unanimous victory for donor protections as lawmakers approved HB 1101, a bill designed to prevent life, disability and long‑term care insurers from penalizing people for serving as organ or tissue donors. The measure zeroes in on transplantation issues by banning insurers from declining or limiting coverage, raising premiums, or altering price structures because someone is an organ donor or experiences a complication related to procuring a donation. The House approved the bill with only one vote against it.
State Representative Nicole Uhre‑Balk sponsored the proposal and framed it as a practical barrier removal aimed at supporting both deceased and living donors who play critical roles in transplantation and tissue repair. During debate she pointed to national data underscoring the need to protect donor candidates from insurance repercussions that could discourage people from consenting to procure organs or to be living donors. The legislation explicitly targets insurer practices that could tie post‑donation complications to higher costs or denials of coverage.
Supporters contend HB 1101 would strengthen transplant programs statewide by removing financial and insurance fears that can deter living donation and participation in organ procurement. The bill attracted some scrutiny from the insurance industry; the sponsor acknowledged working with a lobbyist who represents multiple carriers while crafting elements of the language. Nevertheless, the measure cleared the House and now advances to the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee for further consideration, where lawmakers will weigh its impact on insurers, transplant centers, patients and donors.
If enacted, the law would create an added safety net for people who choose to donate, aligning regulatory protections with efforts to increase transplantation rates and reduce barriers to lifesaving organ and tissue transfers.
Video originally published on 2026-02-05 06:41:55
