The Check Your Heart Act became law last year, making Michigan the first state in the nation to place the Donor Registry question on a state income tax form.
That was exciting progress for Gift of Life and the results so far have been astounding.
More than 13,000 people were added to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry through the state income tax form this year, as the question appeared for the first time. This meaningful new way to join helped boost donor registrations in Michigan to 58% of adults.
It’s the most successful Donor Registry initiative in years, and it prompted other organ procurement organizations in the country to contact Gift of Life Michigan in hopes of duplicating it in other states.
Something else happened and it demonstrated resounding support for organ, eye and tissue donation here in Michigan. Another 171,000 people already registered also checked the box on their tax forms. Those taxpayers just wanted to make sure their decisions were documented. Once you’re signed up, there’s no need to do it year after year.
Before this year, about 95% of new registrations came through the Secretary of State via driver’s licenses and state ID issuances or renewals. This year, Secretary of State sign-ups account for 82% of new registrations, and 14% are coming from income tax forms.
This new law will now present the Donor Registry question each year to more than 4.5 million tax filers, and Gift of Life is hopeful that registrations in the thousands will continue to come in this way year after year.
The marketing campaign “Do Taxes. Save Lives.” helped educate tax filers and tax preparers about the opportunity to join the Donor Registry through the Michigan income tax form. The campaign resulted in 4.2 million impressions and more than 85,000 visits to Gift of Life’s website to learn more.
California and Wisconsin have followed Michigan’s lead, and Maryland, Texas and Hawaii are considering similar measures.
