US investigates organ collection groups for potentially defrauding government

US authorities are investigating organizations that coordinate organ donations over allegations that the non-profits are potentially defrauding the federal government.

The federal investigation, first reported by the Washington Post, is looking at several organ procurement organizations (OPOs) that secure organs for transplants within the United States.

A focus of the inquiry is investigating whether the organizations knowingly overbilled the Department of Veteran Affairs as well as Medicare, two agencies that reimburse OPOs for the procurement of organs.

The investigation is also looking into whether OPOs arranged kickbacks between organizations, the Post reported, citing one person with knowledge of the investigation.

The latest investigation, led by the Department of Health and Human Services as well as inspector general Michael Missal with the Department of Veterans Affairs, could lead to a mass overhaul of the organ transplant industry, the Post reported.

Missal and the Department of Health and Human Services did not return the Guardian’s request for comment.

At least six people with knowledge of the investigation told the Post that the inquiry has been taking place for several months. But it recently intensified as investigators visited the offices and homes of at least 10 chief executives at different OPOs.

In a message to its membership, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations also acknowledged that federal investigators had visited several OPOs in February “as part of an inquiry”.

Lawmakers in recent years have attempted to reform the organ transplant system, which has been rife with issues.

Last March, the Biden administration announced that it would break up the monopoly on the US’s organ transplant system,