For Immediate Release

Latoya Bembry | The Ferraro Group

702-367-7771 | latoya@theferrarogroup.com

Statement in Response to Inquiries Related to House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy

Nevada Donor Network (NDN) is an independent federally designated 501(c)3 organization certified by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The mission of NDN is to facilitate the recovery of life-saving organs and tissues
within the state of Nevada. As a vital part of this mission, CMS requires NDN to educate the community it serves about
donation and encourage as many people as possible to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors.

NDN currently holds the distinct honor of being the most productive Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) in the
country in terms of organ donors recovered and organs transplanted per million population served (a globally
recognized metric). In 2020 alone, and on behalf of the donor heroes and families that NDN serves, NDN allocated 504
organs for transplant, and made the gift of healing possible for thousands more tissue and cornea recipients. Under the
new metric released by CMS in a recent final rule, NDN remains a top-tier OPO amongst all 57 OPOs.

While we are aware that 11 OPOs have received inquiries from the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer
Policy, NDN is not one of them. Should we receive such a request, we will absolutely cooperate. Our financial statements
are a matter of public record, and we are committed to openness and transparency.

During a recent hearing of the House Subcommittee, questions arose regarding NDN’s possible use of CMS taxpayer
dollars for entertainment purposes, including professional sporting events. While NDN does utilize season tickets to the
Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders, taxpayer dollars were not used to purchase them.  Entertainment items
used for donor stakeholder relations and development are purchased through other funding sources, which include
donations and other fundraising efforts. Board governance activities are subject to partial reimbursement, utilizing
taxpayer funds, per the discretion of CMS. Our mission as an organization also involves community engagement and
awareness through partnerships with community leaders and donation stakeholders. NDN views its investments in these
powerful engagement tools as supporting our mission. 

NDN fully complies with all CMS financial disclosure requirements. Every year, NDN files a Cost Report with CMS in
accordance with applicable regulations. CMS contracts with agencies to review and settle these Cost Reports. In the last
2 years alone, NDN successfully closed all its Cost Reports through the fiscal year 2018 without any adjustments. In
addition, NDN has an independent third-party financial audit performed annually, and a clean opinion has been issued
each year. The results of this audit are reviewed by both NDN’s Governing Board and that board’s audit committee (each
of which has an opportunity to discuss audit results with NDN’s third party auditors).

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#DonateLife
Nevada Donor Network (NDN) is a federally designated 501(c)3 not-for-profit organ procurement organization, also responsible for facilitating tissue and cornea donation in Nevada.
Our primary function is to coordinate, recover, and allocate lifesaving organs and healing tissues for transplantation and research on behalf of our heroic donors. Nevada Donor Network
is a member of Donate Life Nevada, a statewide collaboration of agencies committed to motivating Nevada residents to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

nvdonor.org /nvdonor /Nevada Donor Network

During the House Subcommittee hearing, questions arose regarding NDN’s Administrative and General Expenses,
specifically the “Other A&G” category. The document referenced in these questions is a form within the Cost Report
that CMS requires to be completed. OPOs cannot change any of the line items in CMS’s form and thus must fit all
expenses within the preselected categories. The specific line item referenced in these questions contains costs for items
such as janitorial, supplies, independent contractors, security, etc. NDN simply must fill out the requested line items
required by CMS’s form to the best of NDN’s ability, within the constraints of the forms.

For all questions related to the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), please contact Public Affairs &
Communications Manager, Jenny Miller, MS at jmiller@aopo.org.

NDN is proud of our success in helping to end the wait for all Nevadans and people across the country seeking a second
chance at life. We will continue our mission to maximize the gift of life and health through organ, eye, and tissue
donation and provide a strong network of support for the courageous donor families who save and heal lives through
donation.

#DonateLife
Nevada Donor Network (NDN) is a federally designated 501(c)3 not-for-profit organ procurement organization, also responsible for facilitating tissue and cornea donation in Nevada.
Our primary function is to coordinate, recover, and allocate lifesaving organs and healing tissues for transplantation and research on behalf of our heroic donors. Nevada Donor Network
is a member of Donate Life Nevada, a statewide collaboration of agencies committed to motivating Nevada residents to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

nvdonor.org /nvdonor /Nevada Donor Network