Policy fixing race-based kidney estimates linked to more transplants for Black patients
Mar 10th 2026
A national analysis in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that wait time corrections tied to a 2023 transplant policy led to higher kidney transplant rates for Black patients, with more than 21,000 candidates receiving an average 1.7 year wait time boost.
- Over 21,000 candidates received wait time modifications after the December 2023 OPTN policy, gaining an average 1.7 years of wait time credit.
- The policy change was associated with 5.3 additional transplants per 1,000 listings among Black candidates.
- The study analyzed all U.S. kidney transplants performed between January 2022 and June 2025.
- Increased transplant rates were observed for Black patients listed both before and after starting dialysis.
- Researchers say further study is needed on long-term outcomes, center-level variation, and other barriers to equitable transplant access.