New York City Aims to Boost Organ Donor Registration

Community outreach and policy reforms aim to increase donation rates, especially in underrepresented communities.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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New York has made progress in increasing organ donor registration, with a majority of eligible residents now registered. However, registration rates in New York City, particularly in communities with high numbers of Black and Brown residents on the transplant waiting list, lag behind the statewide average. Donate Life NYS is working with city leaders, agencies, and community organizations to expand access to donor registration and education, including through policy changes like the HEART Act that allow Medicaid recipients to register at multiple transplant centers.

Why it matters

Increasing organ donor registration, especially in underserved communities in New York City, is crucial to reducing the transplant waiting list and saving lives. New Yorkers on the waiting list, who are disproportionately people of color, face long wait times and high mortality rates due to the shortage of available organs.

The details

Donate Life NYS is spearheading a multi-pronged effort to boost organ donor registration in New York City. This includes engaging with faith leaders, hospitals, healthcare organizations, and other trusted community voices to spread information about organ donation. The organization is also working to expand access to registration, such as by integrating it into routine government transactions like vehicle registration and voter registration. Recent policy changes like the HEART Act, which allows Medicaid recipients to register at multiple transplant centers, have also had a significant impact.

  • In 2026, New York crossed the milestone of having a majority of eligible residents registered as organ donors.
  • The HEART Act, which aims to reduce transplant waiting times and mortality rates, was enacted in New York this year.

The players

Donate Life NYS

A nonprofit organization that works to increase organ and tissue donation in New York State.

Crystal Peoples-Stokes

New York State Assembly Majority Leader, who sponsored the HEART Act.

April Baskin

New York State Senator, who co-sponsored the HEART Act.

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What’s next

Donate Life NYS plans to continue its community outreach and partnership efforts with city leaders, agencies, and organizations to further increase organ donor registration, especially in underrepresented communities in New York City.

The takeaway

Boosting organ donor registration in New York City, particularly among communities of color who are disproportionately represented on the transplant waiting list, is crucial to saving lives and reducing disparities in access to life-saving transplants. A multi-pronged approach of community engagement, policy reform, and expanding registration opportunities is key to making progress on this important public health issue.