South Dakota has enacted new protections for living organ donors. A bill signed last month by Governor Larry Rhoden now prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage based solely on a person’s donor status.
The change follows five straight years in which the American Kidney Fund gave South Dakota an F rating for donor protections. Representative Nicole Uhre-Balk, the bill’s prime sponsor, says the Kidney Fund brought the issue to her attention and helped educate lawmakers throughout the process.
The measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, facing just one opposing vote in the House before clearing both chambers. Supporters say the new law removes a major barrier for
people considering becoming living organ donors and brings South Dakota in line with national best practices.
