CMS to Delay Start of IOTA Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) anticipates a delayed start date of the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) model because it needs additional time to prepare a final rule. Originally proposed to start on January 1, 2025, the IOTA model seeks to increase access to kidney transplants by maximizing the use of deceased donor kidneys and increasing the number of living donors. GNYHA’s comment letter about the IOTA model expressed significant concerns about the timing, participation requirements, scale, and methodology, which would result in virtually unachievable upside potential, especially for high-performing transplant centers. GNYHA and other stakeholders have warned CMS about the potential unintended consequences of this mandatory model on access to kidney transplants and the amplification of existing disparities in resource allocation. We will continue to inform our members of any updates or changes to the IOTA model.