The undersigned organizations appreciate the opportunity to submit comments to the ACBSCT. Collectively, our organizations represent cord blood banks and individuals in the cord blood community, such as physicians and other healthcare providers, researchers and professionals in cord blood banking and transplantation. We are submitting this letter with a request to be added to the…
Read MoreThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced late today that they have extended the enforcement discretion period with respect to the laboratory date of service exception policy (14-Day rule for Advanced Laboratory Tests). The enforcement discretion is extended for 6 months until January 2, 2020. CMS’s announcement is accompanied by a questions and…
Read MoreAABB, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross appreciate the opportunity to submit comments in response to the proposed rule updating the hospital inpatient payment system and the long-term care hospital (LTCH) payment system for 2020 (Proposed Rule). Collectively, our organizations represent the nation’s blood collection establishments, transfusion services, and transfusion medicine professionals. Our…
Read MoreAABB, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross welcome the opportunity to submit comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the proposed rule entitled, “Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2020 and Updates to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Quality Reporting Program” (Proposed Rule), which…
Read MoreAABB, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross appreciate the opportunity to submit comments in response to the proposed rule announcing the hospice wage index and payment rate update and hospice quality reporting requirements for fiscal year 2020 (Proposed Rule), which was published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2019. Collectively, our organizations…
Read MoreAABB , America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross appreciate the opportunity to submit comments in response to the proposed rule announcing the hospice wage index and payment rate update and hospice quality reporting requirements for fiscal year 2020 (Proposed Rule), which was published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2019. Collectively, our…
Read MoreAmerica’s Blood Centers has partnered with Facebook to bring a blood donation tool to the United States underscoring the ongoing need for additional blood donors across the country. The launch of the tool coincides with World Blood Donor Day on June 14, an international event to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their lifesaving gifts…
Read MoreCongress has passed the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPA) following approval in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The bill (S.1379) now awaits President Trump’s signature which is ex-pected in the near future. America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and its members have supported this broad legislation that drives the nation’s disaster…
Read MoreThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a final guidance en-titled, “Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis.” The guidance recommends that babesiosis is a relevant transfusion-transmitted infection (RTTI) 21 CFR 630.3(h)(2)(i) and (ii) but does not recom-mend year-round antibody testing in Babesia endemic states at this time due to the lack…
Read MoreThe AABB Interorganizational Task Force and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has revised the blood prioritization letter last updated in 2007. The letter signed by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir, MD is a resource to be used by blood centers when working with state, territorial, tribal, and local emergency…
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