Transplant: We proudly serve veterans in need of organ transplant

As a Veteran’s Administration approved transplant program, we offer new hope for a full and healthy life for people with end-stage organ failure. The transplant experts at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital partner with some of the world’s most respected transplant professionals at the UW Health Transplant Center. Our wait times are among the shortest in the nation and our outcomes are excellent.

We serve patients requiring a heart, liver, lung, or multi-organ transplant while honoring the gifts of life shared by organ donors.

Heart transplant

Our heart failure team also serves veteran’s in need of mechanical circulatory support, including ventricular assist devices. We also have expertise to perform multi-organ transplants.

Liver transplant

Our liver failure and transplant hepatology team serve veteran’s in liver failure and have expertise in performing multi organ transplants.

Lung transplant

Our lung failure and transplant pulmonology team have the expertise of the UW Health ECMO team to serve patients who require additional support. Our experts also perform multi-organ transplants.

Our expertise and long history of success greatly helps veterans experiencing organ failure. Each patient works with one of our certified nurse coordinators, who have special training in transplant and know how to organize the veteran’s care. The coordinator works with physicians, surgeons and other specialty care providers to manage each patient’s specific organ failure needs and guides the veteran through their transplant surgery and beyond. They are always available to answer questions, provide education and support the veteran.

Veterans using VA Health Care pay much less toward their care

• Some Veterans have zero co-payments for medical care (including prescription costs) and some have a limit set on their co-payment amount

• All Veterans have medication co-payments capped at $700/year (if they have any co-payment)

• Co-payments depend on things like the veteran’s disability rating, income level, military service record and which of the VA’s 8 priority groups the veteran is assigned to upon enrolling in VA Health Care

• For more details regarding copayments, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Other benefits for Veterans using VA Health Care

• Transportation is free, provided or mileage is reimbursed for travel to/from the Madison VA Transplant Center for transplant-related care

• Lodging is free for the veteran and one support person while the veteran is in Madison for any pre- and post-transplant related care

• These benefits depend on where the veteran lives and/or where their primary VA is located

• The VA system shares electronic medical records, giving us direct access to all the Veteran’s medical records which improves timeliness and communication

• Care is managed by an experienced transplant nurse coordinator who aligns care from our clinical experts in transplant medicine, surgery, pharmacy/medications, social work, nutrition and physical therapy

Learn if the veteran is eligible

Direct the veteran to U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs or call the Madison VA eligibility office: (608) 256-1901 x17038

The veteran should be prepared to provide a completed Application for Health Benefits (VA form 10-10EZ, which can be found online)

The application requires:

• The veteran’s most recent tax return

• Social Security numbers for the veteran and his/her qualified dependents

• Account numbers for any current health insurance that the veteran has

Post-transplant veterans can still benefit from VA Health Care

These benefits are helpful to veterans who received their transplant, especially the pharmacy benefits. The VA will work with veterans who request dual care (having a VA PCP and a non-VA PCP) or the veteran can transfer all their care to the VA, if preferred. If the veteran is not transitioning all care to the VA, they will need to see a VA PCP at least once a year to use their VA pharmacy benefit.

Benefit questions?

Contact Sally Blake, Transplant Social Worker at (608) 256-1901 x13487 or sally.blake@va.gov

• UW Health Transplant Center Heart Transplant Program

• UW Health Transplant Center Lung Transplant Program

• UW Health Transplant Center Liver Transplant Program

• Solid Organ Transplant Information from the United Network for Organ Sharing, the non-profit organization that serves as the nation’s transplant system under contract with the federal government