Federal government decertifies Network for Hope, Kentucky's organ donation group

Hannah Pinski, Lexington Herald-Leader on Aug 5, 2026

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was in Lexington Wednesday to announce the federal government is ending its contract with Kentucky’s organ donation organization.

Network for Hope has come under scrutiny in recent years after a Health Resources and Services Administration investigation in 2025 found the organization ignored signs of life from several patients scheduled for procedures in the past four years.

Kennedy said extensive reviews by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and HRSA found persistent patient failures despite repeated oversight, warnings and corrective action plans.

“We found patients placed on the organ donation pathway who should have never been there,” Kennedy said. “We found cases where the donation process continued, despite signs that patients were not appropriate organ donors. We found repeated failures in clinical judgment, oversight and patient safety. And we found that these problems continued even after the organization promised to correct them.”

In addition to Kentucky, Network for Hope also serves parts of Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.

Barry Massa, CEO of Network for Hope, said in a statement to the Herald-Leader that the organization will appeal Kennedy’s decision.

“NFH is compliant with all (organ procurement and transplantation network) policies and has implemented a first-of-its-kind ‘pause in procedure’ process to further strengthen patient safety,” Massa said. “This pause process is now Kentucky law, and NFH proudly worked hand-in-hand with legislators and regulators by providing input in the drafting both of the new law and its implementing regulations.

“Despite this, and despite NFH’s demonstrated dedication to improving organ and tissue donation outcomes across its service area, Secretary Kennedy has acted to decertify our (organ procurement organization) that serves seven million people across four states.”

Kennedy’s decision is part of an effort to address unsafe and unfair practices in the organ transplant system.

His department oversees the transplant system, which cut ties with a similar nonprofit in South Florida last year, according to reporting from The New York Times.

In the 2025 investigation, main findings included improperly taking over cases from doctors, pressuring families to proceed with donations for their loved ones and pushing hospital staff to proceed with organ donation procedures despite obvious signs of life.

One case that gained national attention involved Anthony Thomas “TJ” Hoover II. In October 2021, he was admitted to Baptist Health Hospital in Richmond after a drug overdose, and he was lined up for organ donation after being declared dead.

However, Donna Rhorer, Hoover’s sister, told NPR in 2024 she saw her brother open his eyes, and NPR also reported Hoover “thrashed around” while having his heart examined.

Plans for the procedure did not change until two doctors declined to operate on Hoover.

Hoover and Rhorer both attended the press conference. Kennedy told Hoover he’s grateful he’s still here, and is thankful for the physicians who had the courage to do the right thing.

“TJ’s story is a powerful reminder that every safeguard exists for a reason,” Kennedy said. “Most organ procurement organizations carry out this work with professionalism, compassion and deep respect for both donors and recipients. But Network for Hope repeatedly failed to meet those standards. It was a bad apple.”

Rhorer said her brother almost died that day and those responsible should be held accountable.

“When they finally stopped and acknowledged TJ was still alive, they sent him home with me and said: ‘Make him comfortable. He will not last,’” Rhorer said. “Well, it’s been five years, and he’s still here.”

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