Last week, both chambers of Wisconsin’s legislature passed significant legislation to allow Wisconsin residents to join the Wisconsin Organ Donor Registry by opting in when they file their Wisconsin income tax forms. The bill now awaits Governor Evers’ final approval. If enacted, Wisconsin will be the third state in the nation to allow tax filers to check a box if they want to add their names to the Donor Registry.
The Department of Revenue would process registrations with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Department of Health Services. Those who opt in will then be included in the Wisconsin Organ Donor Registry.
"We commend the Wisconsin Legislature and the Department of Revenue for their dedication to saving lives through organ donation," remarked Colleen McCarthy, vice president of Versiti Organ and Tissue. "This legislation will spark significant growth in the Donor Registry. With over 1,500 Wisconsinites awaiting life-saving organ transplants, we're optimistic that this law will pave the way for enhancing the donor registry."
While more than 90 percent of Americans voice support for organ, tissue, and eye donation, only about 60 percent nationally have taken the step to register or discuss their donation wishes with their loved ones. The bill is crucial because Wisconsin lags behind other states in growing its Organ Donor Registry.
The opt-in option on Wisconsin income tax forms will be available beginning in 2025. Any Wisconsinite who wants to join the Organ Donor Registry now may do so by going to the Organ & Tissue Donor Registry (wisconsin.gov). To learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit versiti.org/sharinglife.
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About Versiti
Versiti, a national leader in blood health innovation, was formed with the mission to improve the health of patients and enable the success of our healthcare partners nationally. We provide innovative, value-added solutions in the fields of transfusion medicine, transplantation, and blood-related diseases to meet the needs of each of our customers. The collective efforts across Versiti result in improved patient outcomes, expanded access to care, and cost efficiencies for healthcare systems nationwide. For more information, visit versiti.org.