America’s Blood Centers (ABC) in consultation with its Board of Directors, Policy Council, and input from member blood centers has published its 2023 Advocacy Agenda. The federal legislative and regulatory priorities that are most important to community blood centers are reflected within the ABC Advocacy Agenda which also includes clearly defined legislative and regulatory solutions that will guide the work of the association on behalf of its member blood centers. Through the 2023 Advocacy Agenda, ABC continues to urge the Administration, Congress, and industry stakeholders to promote the value of blood to patients, communities, and the healthcare system by:
- streamlining product licensure to allow blood centers to adapt to changing donor needs;
- expanding the pool of blood donors and available blood by funding local awareness efforts to recruit new and previously deferred donors made eligible by recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) eligibility changes;
- ensuring blood transfusions are available to patients when and where they need blood;
- supporting a robust donor base by prioritizing blood donation as a national imperative;
- committing federal resources in support of the vital role of blood in the healthcare system; and
- reducing unnecessary and burdensome regulation to support innovation and blood product availability.
Additionally, ABC will take the priorities outlined in the 2023 ABC Advocacy Agenda to Congress during the upcoming 2023 Day on Capitol Hill on April 26th. We encourage all members to take part in these virtual visits with members of Congress and their staff, capitalizing on the opportunity to educate Capitol Hill on the work you do daily to ensure a safe and available blood supply. Registration is open.
ABC also recently announced the inaugural Blood Advocacy Week. This initiative builds on the 2023 advocacy agenda provides an opportunity for all individuals to promote the value of blood to patients, communities, and the nation’s healthcare system. Taking place April 24th-28th, each day of this week will use a virtual event and social media campaigns to highlight a different advocacy priority and provide information about changes that could be made to strengthen and diversity America’s blood supply.
Fifty diverse partners have already signed on to help promote the value of blood through taking part this initiative. This includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADRP, Blood Centers of America, American Society for Clinical Pathology, Civil Air Patrol, the Crescent Foundation, Elks, Fresenius Kabi, Georgia Health Policy Center, GLAAD, Health Professions Week, HOSA Future Health Professionals, Johsnon & Johnson, the National Hemophilia Foundation, the Northern Arundel Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Operation Pulse Lift, Sickle Cell Foundation of Minnesota, the Student Leadership Council, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, Thalassemia International Federation, the Thrive with Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Organization, University Blood Initiative, and Whitman-Walker Health.
They are being joined by community blood centers across the country, including Blood Assurance, Blood Center of Northcentral Wisconsin, Carter BloodCare, Central California Blood Center, Community Blood Center (Appleton),The Community Blood Center (Appleton, Wis.) Community Blood Center (Dayton, Ohio), the Blood Center (New Orleans), Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, Houchin Community Blood Bank, ImpactLife LIFELINE Blood Services, LifeServe Blood Center, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, MEDIC Regional Blood Center, Miller-Keystone Blood Center, Rock River Valley Blood Center, San Diego Blood Bank, Shepeard Community Blood Center, Stanford Blood Center, South Texas Blood & Tissue, The Blood Connection, Versiti, and Vitalant.
A full list of partners is available on the Blood Advocacy Week website’s partners page and ABC encourages all organizations to to become a partner in this important work.
ABC also thanks Fresenius Kabi for being a Blood Advocacy Week sponsor. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.
ABC thanks its members and partners who have and continue to help advance the priorities and work of independent community blood centers through both the 2023 advocacy agenda and Blood Advocacy Week initiatives.