1.   But they will not actually be used to distribute livers until HHS gives its OK, which is expected to take several months.

2.   It would also create broader areas to distribute livers, so donations could travel further to reach a sicker patient.

3.   Meanwhile, UNOS is considering new plans that would distribute livers across larger geographic areas and developing more detailed medical criteria to rank waiting patients.

4.   Seeking to comply with the new federal rules, the United Network for Organ Sharing on Monday agreed to submit a new plan for distributing donating livers.