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ACBSA meeting - January 2004
DATE: January 28 and 29, 2004
TO: Interested Parties
SUBJECT: ACBSA meeting
Whereas the DHHS ACBSA finds that current instabilities in the
national blood system pose threats to blood safety and
availability, and limit national preparedness to address disasters
including potential acts of terrorism;
And whereas the DHHS ACBSA finds the goals of supply, quality,
accessibility and efficiency as stated in the 1974 National Blood
Policy remain applicable, the committee recommends that DHHS
urgently:
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Take steps to enable development of a 5-7 day inventory of blood
components in all collection centers both to stabilize the blood
system and to improve preparedness for disasters.
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Fully fund the DHHS Blood Action Plan in the area of private and
government supply monitoring, and increasing the blood supply.
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Address funding needs at all levels of the blood system to
support product safety, quality, availability and access through
targeting of additive resources and appropriate reform of the
CMS reimbursement system for blood and blood products including
plasma derived therapeutics and their recombinant analogs.
And whereas, consistent with our previous recommendations of
January 2002, the ACBSA further believes that establishing a
National Blood Reserve Program would add stability and security to
the US blood system if developed in the context of increased daily
collection inventories through an enhanced program to expand and
sustain volunteer blood donations;
And whereas the committee additionally endorses the elements of a
National Blood Reserve Program as developed by the AABB
Interorganizational Task Force, therefore the committee also
recommends that:
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DHHS fund development of a National Blood Reserve as a
government/private sector partnership.
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