Researchers Proposed New Heart Transplant Policy
A new scoring system aims to reduce subjective bias in prioritizing patients for life-saving heart transplants.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Heart Disease
Live Poll
Should transplant systems prioritize patients using objective medical data rather than current treatment-based status?
Researchers have introduced the U.S. Candidate Risk Score (US-CRS), a proposed policy designed to prioritize heart transplant candidates using objective laboratory data. The initiative seeks to replace the current six-status model that critics argue allows for the manipulation of waitlist priority through aggressive treatments.
Why it matters
One in five people on the U.S. heart transplant waiting list currently dies or is removed from the list before receiving an organ. By basing priority on measurable indicators of organ failure, the proposed system aims to minimize subjective decision-making in the allocation process.
The study analyzed more than 45,000 transplant match runs to evaluate the proposed US-CRS algorithm. This new risk score utilizes a six-week predictive timeframe to assess patient mortality risk.
The players
JAMA
JAMA is a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association that features original research and reviews in various fields of medicine.
University of Chicago Medical Center
The University of Chicago Medical Center is a prominent academic research hospital where the study regarding the new organ allocation policy was conducted.
The details
The proposed algorithm ranks transplant candidates using clinical measurements of heart function alongside markers for kidney and liver failure. Unlike the current system, the new model also factors in the geographic distance between donor and recipient to improve allocation efficiency.
Timeline
The new heart transplant policy was formally published in the journal JAMA on October 12, 2026.
The U.S. Candidate Risk Score was initially described in research conducted in 2024.
Health Landscape
The proposed US-CRS system represents a significant shift from the current heart transplant six-status allocation model. This change mirrors broader efforts in the medical field to modernize organ distribution by replacing subjective clinical assessments with data-driven predictive metrics.
The proposed policy change could eventually improve access to heart transplants for patients with the highest clinical need by standardizing prioritization across the country. Patients currently on the waiting list may see their priority scores recalibrated once the new system is adopted.
The takeaway
The move toward a risk-based score highlights an industry shift toward objective, data-driven medical triage. Patients and families waiting for transplants should consult with their medical teams to understand how potential changes in allocation algorithms might affect their standing on the list.
What happens next
The U.S. Candidate Risk Score must undergo administrative reviews, testing, and potential revision phases over the next several years before researchers can finalize the implementation of the new policy.
Further reading
For more information on the current standards and research, visit the Heart Disease section.
More information
Read the full results in the JAMA medical journal study abstract.
Live Poll
Should transplant systems prioritize patients using objective medical data rather than current treatment-based status?
