Bill Overview
Title: Doss's Act
Description: This bill generally prohibits an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status from being taken into account for purposes of organ donation or receipt. The bill also prohibits (1) the incidence rate of COVID-19 in a geographic area from being considered in such decisions, and (2) the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network from establishing standards that incorporate any of these factors. Additionally, as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid participation, health care providers, with specified exceptions (e.g., skilled nursing facilities), may not deny services to individuals based on COVID-19 vaccination status.
Sponsors: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals regarding COVID-19 and organ donation or Medicaid/Medicare services
Estimated Size: 156000000
- The bill impacts all individuals eligible for organ donation, as it mandates the disregard of COVID-19 vaccination status in this context.
- This legislation affects all potential organ recipients, ensuring equitable access regardless of vaccination status.
- The bill impacts entities involved in organ procurement and transplantation, as they must comply with the new regulations.
- All Medicare and Medicaid participants could be affected because healthcare providers cannot deny services based on COVID-19 vaccination status.
- The U.S. adult population involved in or subject to the Medicare and Medicaid programs will experience significant impacts from these provisions.
Reasoning
- The policy will most directly impact unvaccinated individuals who might have faced discrimination in healthcare settings or in the organ donation process under previous regulations.
- The policy also impacts vaccinated individuals indirectly, as it sets a precedent for non-discrimination based on personal health choices, which could affect future healthcare policies.
- Given the large population across the United States eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, even a small percentage impacted represents a significant number of people.
- The organ procurement and transplant community will face changes in their operational standards, potentially affecting how organs are allocated or processed.
- Financial and logistical considerations of this policy—such as potential increases in organ transplant logistics or healthcare service demands—must fit within the set budget.
- Interviews include a diverse range of individuals to reflect the varied impact across the population, recognizing that some will experience no direct change while others see significant effects.
Simulated Interviews
school teacher (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel relieved knowing my vaccination status won't hinder my chances of getting a life-saving kidney.
- This policy helps me and others like me who were worried about discrimination.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
retired (Austin, TX)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe everyone deserves the same healthcare access regardless of their vaccination choices.
- This bill doesn't change anything for me directly but it's reassuring to see fair treatment being advocated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
software engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 52 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad healthcare providers can't deny services based on vaccination status anymore.
- It reassures my trust in the healthcare system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
farmer (Rural Kentucky)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I was worried I'd be judged for not getting vaccinated, especially in health situations.
- This gives me peace of mind that my health services won't be denied.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 59 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will streamline the process making organ donors and recipients feel safer.
- I'm proud to work in a country where fair access to healthcare is prioritized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
waiter (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although I don't use these services, it's comforting to know that I could still get care regardless of my vaccination status.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
retired librarian (Chicago, IL)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing that my vaccine status won't affect my place on the transplant list is a huge relief.
- It adds a layer of security and fairness to the process.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
freelancer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worried that refusing the vaccine would mean I get less priority in healthcare.
- I'm relieved this worry is gone now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
doctor (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It simplifies our regulatory process and ensures equity.
- However, it could increase demand on already strained resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
tech entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While it doesn't directly affect me, I believe it's a forward-thinking policy that respects individual choices.
- I support equitable access to healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $70000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $90000000)
Year 2: $65000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $80000000)
Year 3: $60000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $75000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $35000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $45000000)
Year 100: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Key Considerations
- Monitoring compliance and the enforcement of these regulations might require additional oversight from relevant federal agencies.
- Litigation possibility from either patients or healthcare providers challenging the interpretation of services under Medicare and Medicaid could influence costs.
- The shifting public health landscape might require future amendments to maintain effective healthcare provision.