Patients With Disabilities Faced Transplant Access Gaps

A study of decade-long data found lower evaluation and transplant rates for patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Special Needs

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a heavy doorway, symbolizing systemic medical access barriers for patients with disabilities. — A decade-long analysis revealed that patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities faced significantly lower rates of kidney transplant access compared to matched controls. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Between 2013 and 2023, patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities were significantly less likely to receive kidney transplant evaluations or procedures than matched controls. The analysis of nearly 13,000 patients revealed persistent access challenges despite anti-discrimination protections.

Why it matters

Disparities in organ transplant access for families managing intellectual or developmental disabilities persist because legislative protections often fail to change day-to-day clinical practice. This gap highlights a significant hurdle for households navigating long-term medical care and organ transplant logistics.

Patients with disabilities were 22% less likely to receive a transplant evaluation and 38% less likely to receive a kidney transplant compared to 49,199 control patients. Although 40 states have anti-discrimination laws, no significant impact on these transplant rates was found.

The players

Ohio State University

The institution providing the research lead for this investigation into health equity and transplant access.

The details

Researchers utilized propensity score matching to compare 12,730 patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities against a larger control group using Medicare data. The analysis controlled for variables such as calendar month, year, and state-level data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite the prevalence of anti-discrimination laws, the study found no evidence that provisions like private rights of action successfully increased access to care.

The analysis covered Medicare data spanning from 2013 through 2023.

The Home Front

This research evaluates the efficacy of state anti-discrimination laws meant to ensure equitable access to organ transplantation. It highlights that legislative frameworks have not yet translated into systemic changes in care for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Families managing intellectual or developmental disabilities should actively verify the transplant evaluation process with their medical team if a procedure becomes necessary. Ask specialists specifically about the criteria used for patient selection to ensure transparency throughout the evaluation process.

The takeaway

Legislative protections are currently insufficient to guarantee equitable access to kidney transplants for individuals with disabilities. Families navigating these medical paths should remain proactive and keep detailed records of all communications with transplant centers and care teams.