Relating to prohibiting organ transplant recipient discrimination on the basis of vaccination status.

Contracts

• Medical Staff Bylaws & Employment Agreements: Review and amend provisions regarding adherence to hospital protocols. You must ensure no contractual clauses conflict with Section 161.474(d), which prohibits taking adverse action (firing, demoting, revoking privileges) against a provider who treats or refers an unvaccinated patient in compliance with this law.

Hiring/Training

• Intake & Referral Staff: Train front-line staff immediately to stop screening patients out based on vaccination history.
• Physician Training: Medical staff must be trained on the new burden of proof. They can no longer rely on general policy; they must perform an "individualized evaluation" to deny a transplant based on vaccination status.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• New Internal Form (Mandatory): Create a "Determination of Medical Significance" record. If a transplant is denied due to vaccination status, the physician must document that the lack of vaccination poses a "medically significant" risk to *that specific patient* for *that specific organ*.
• Waitlist Audit: You must audit current waitlists prior to September 1, 2025. Re-evaluate any patient previously removed or deprioritized solely due to vaccination status to ensure they are processed under the new standards.

Fees & Costs

• No New State Fees: The fiscal note indicates no new fees payable to the state.
• Operational Costs: Budget for legal review of denial protocols and potential modifications to Electronic Health Record (EHR) workflows to remove automatic "hard stops" regarding vaccination status.