The undersigned organizations support the critical work being done by the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG). Vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases, create multifaceted and interdisciplinary public health challenges. We appreciate the TBDWG’s plans to address the risks associated with tick-borne diseases and applaud policymakers’ commitment to addressing tick-borne diseases through the recently enacted Kay Hagan…
Read MoreADRP, in recognition of National Blood Donor Month in January, has developed resources to be used in the effort to help spread awareness for the need for blood. We encourage blood donor centers to utilize the following resources throughout the month of January to show support. In addition, we welcome everyone to view the various…
Read MoreIn light of ongoing epidemiology data showing no evidence that mosquitoes in the continental U.S. have transmitted ZIKV since 2017, ABC believes the Food and Drug Administration should take immediate action to cease testing of blood donations for the Zika virus. Ongoing Zika virus testing imposes significant costs to the healthcare system without materially contributing…
Read MoreAmericas Blood Centers’ (ABC) is North America’s largest network of FDA-licensed, independent, non-profit community-based blood centers. Our members collect, process, and distribute over half of the blood supply in the United States. We thank the FDA and BPAC for the opportunity to present our member’s views on cold stored platelets. The use of cold stored…
Read MoreThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the calendar year (CY) 2020 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule. It addresses payment to hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), including payment rates for blood components. Laboratory date of service (DOS) exception policy. The rule finalized the categorical exemption of…
Read MoreAmerica’s Blood Centers (ABC) encourages the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to continue to assess the impact of the Final Guidance issued on Bacterial Risk Control Strategies for Blood Collection Establishments and Transfusion Services to Enhance the Safety and Availability of Platelets for Transfusion Guidance for Industry. While the Final Guidance took an important step…
Read MoreOn behalf of the over six hundred innovators, patient groups, physicians, hospitals, venture capitalists and other stakeholders signed below representing millions of patients and hundreds of thousands medical technology jobs, we respectfully request that Congress prioritize repeal of the medical device excise tax before it causes any more harm to the innovation ecosystem. While the…
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 related to the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2019. Collectively, our organizations represent the nation’s blood…
Read MoreA joint initiative between the America’s Blood Centers (ABC) Policy Council and Scientific, Medical, and Technical Committee, this paper confirms the role of a safe and robust blood supply to the overall U.S. healthcare system and highlights areas that warrant further attention and support. Topics focus on current challenges, clinical value of blood, areas of…
Read MoreBlood donation is a safe and common activity that meets a critically important community need. When adverse events occur, most are mild and consist primarily of hematomas and vasovagal reactions (VVRs). VVRs are particularly frequent in teenage donors and there has been an increased effort to research and reduce these events. VVRs can occur from…
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