Wisconsin bill would ban insurance for forced-organ transplants

Governor Tony Evers vetoed legislation Thursday that would have prohibited Wisconsin health insurance policies and the Medical Assistance program from covering organ transplants originating from countries known to practice forced organ harvesting.[3] Senate Bill 672 had passed both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature and defined forced organ harvesting as the removal of organs from living people through coercion, abduction, or deception.[1]

The bill aimed to prevent Wisconsin residents and state programs from inadvertently funding transplant procedures tied to human rights abuses. Supporters of similar measures nationwide have raised concerns about organ trafficking in certain countries, particularly regarding vulnerable populations. The legislation would have created a mechanism for insurers to deny coverage when organs came from sources with documented forced harvesting practices.[3]

For Milwaukee residents, the veto means Wisconsin will not join states implementing restrictions on transplant coverage based on organ sourcing. Patients seeking transplants will continue to have coverage decisions made under existing insurance policies without the additional screening mechanism the bill would have created. The decision reflects broader questions about how states should balance healthcare access with international human rights concerns.