ASBMT Completes Busy Month of Policy Initiatives
Corporate Council Meeting
The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) leadership and past presidents met in late September with industry and BMT thought leaders at the ASBMT Corporate Council meeting. Among the Council’s many objectives is to establish meaningful dialogue between industry leaders, healthcare providers, and the ASBMT’s leaders. Headed by Armand Keating, MD, the Council aims to share information, advice and assistance to address specific BMT issues.
During this year’s meeting, discussions focused on the challenges of supportive care after stem cell transplant, the role of immune cell-based therapies, engineered T Cell therapy, and ASBMT’s efforts to improve access and referral for blood and marrow transplantation (BMT). An overview of health policy issues was also presented by ASBMT Director of Health Policy and Strategic Relations, Stephanie Farnia.
Visit the ASBMT website for more details about the Corporate Council.
Comment Submissions
ASBMT submitted several letters addressing important policy considerations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The letters addressed topics such as the unintended consequences of proposed changes to the outpatient prospective payment system; concerns with proposed changes to bone marrow aspiration, apheresis, and chemotherapy codes within the physician fee schedule; and concerns anticipated during the first year of providing CAR-T therapies to the Medicare population.
Review the letters on the ASBMT website.
Legislative Day
ASBMT hosted its first Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 7, in partnership with the NMDP. The goal for the day was to educate Congressional representatives on issues that affect the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation – Medicare reimbursement, physician payment, and research funding.
Additional details about the Legislative Day are available on the ASBMT website.
