Accreditation, Reimbursement Issues

Discussed with HRSA Advisory Council

Representatives of ASBMT testified on several key issues in a two-day hearing of the HRSA Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation.  Organized early this year, the council advises on implementation of the C.W. “Bill” Young Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI).

Dr. Roy Jones, chair of the ASBMT Committee on Quality Outcomes, addressed concerns about Medicare and private insurer reimbursement for stem cell transplantation.  He emphasized the need for a Medicare National Coverage Determination for allotranplants for myelodysplastic diseases, lymphoma, myeloma and Hodgkin’s disease, and as well as tandem autotransplants for myeloma.

He urge the advisory council to seek clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on its clinical trials policy, urging that the agency should reimburse for indications for which there is not a national "non-coverage" decision.

Dr. Rob Soiffer, ASBMT past-president, testified in support of the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) as best positioned to set standards and provide accreditation for cord blood banks under the NCBI program.  “FACT standards are universally recognized in our field and are known, copied or imitated by governments and accrediting agencies throughout the world,” he said.

AABB also is seeking advisory council recognition for its cord blood bank standards and accreditation program.

Among other topics on the Advisory Council’s April 28-29 agenda were public funding for required data documentation, confidentiality for cord blood donors, FDA progress in the regulation of cord blood banks, access to cord blood units for research, and comparative results post-transplant for bone marrow vs. peripheral blood stem cell vs. cord blood grafts.  

The Advisory Council’s next meeting is in November.