Colorado Moves to Yes-Carryover Process for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry

Colorado is adopting the yes-carryover process for the state’s organ, eye and tissue donor registry with changes to the process beginning September 15, 2017. This process ensures that the rights and responsibilities of those who have made their decision to join the Colorado Donor Registry known are in line with current state law. When a Colorado resident registers as a donor, that decision no longer needs to be proactively renewed and will remain in effect unless they change it. Previously, residents were required to confirm the choice to register each time they renewed their license or state ID because prior decisions on organ, eye and tissue donation were not carried over.

The yes-carryover process will ensure that the registry process meets the intent and requirements of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), allowing residents who have made the choice to register as organ, eye and tissue donors to remain on the donor registry, without the hassle of renewing that choice repeatedly throughout their adult lives. The change is also expected to help increase the number of registered donors in Colorado, therefore resulting in more lifesaving transplants, which will be a great public health benefit to all.

The move to yes-carryover designation does not change residents’ ability to remove their names from the donor registry at any time. This can still be done easily by visiting DonateLifeColorado.org or when visiting the driver license office.

We continue to encourage residents to learn the facts and make an educated, lifesaving decision to register as organ, eye and tissue donors, and to discuss that decision with their families. For more information on organ, eye and tissue donation, visit the About Donation section of our website.