Can I be evaluated and listed at more than one program? Do I have to move there?

Liver transplantation candidates can be listed at more than one center at any given time but do not benefit from being listed by two programs within the same organ allocation region. All transplant programs within a UNOS region work from the same master list.

If a patient chooses to be listed by two programs, he or she should be evaluated in different UNOS regions to minimize the waiting time. It is not a UNOS requirement that patients move their homes to the transplant center’s region. However, you must consider some additional issues when seeking a multiple listing. First, your health insurance company may not pay for a transplant at a center outside of your local region. Second, if the insurer does agree to pay for the transplant wherever it occurs first, the payer often will not cover the expenses of transportation and accommodation for you and your family. Third, organs become available on very short notice, and you must be able to get to the transplant center quickly once the organ is ready. Fourth, most programs require their recipients to remain in close proximity to the transplant center for a month or more after the operation to monitor the recovery, watch for rejection, and adjust medications as needed. Finally, if serious posttransplant complications arise, you must be prepared to return to the transplant center for care. These requirements can be very expensive and timeconsuming for both patient and family. Even though the waiting time may be shorter at a particular center outside of your home region, it may not be the best overall plan to be transplanted there.