Eye, organ and tissue donation.

§ 1.485a Eye, organ and tissue donation. A VHA health care facility may disclose the individually-identified medical record information of an individual covered by §§ 1.460 through 1.499 of this part to an authorized representative of a procurement organization for the purpose of facilitating determination of whether the individual is a suitable potential organ, eye, or tissue donor if: (a) The individual is currently an inpatient in a VHA health care facility; (b) The individual is, in the clinical judgment of the individual's primary health care provider, near death or deceased; (c) The VHA health care facility has a signed agreement with the procurement organization in accordance with the applicable requirements of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and (d) The VHA health care facility has confirmed with HHS that it has certified or recertified the organ procurement organization as provided in the applicable HHS regulations. VA medical centers must verify annually in January of each calendar year with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that an eye bank or tissue bank has complied with the FDA registration requirements of 21 CFR part 1271 and that the registration status is active before permitting an eye bank or tissue bank to receive protected health information. [72 FR 48242, Aug. 23, 2007, as amended at 73 FR 65260, Nov. 3, 2008; 85 FR 64043, Oct. 9, 2020]