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Transplant News

July, 2014

July 02, 2014
Click the link below to see how AST has reviewed and provided commentary on seventeen OPTN policy proposals that were out for public comment. AST's OPTN Policy Proposals Comments

June, 2014

June 24, 2014
Last week, the OPTN/UNOS released a concept document and questionnaire to seek input on issues being studied by their ​Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee, including potential liver allocation ​redistricting as an alternative to current distribution areas. The questionnaire is meant to identify topics for further study and discussion at a public forum, which is likely to occur in September. The concept document and questionnaire links are provided below. AST members are encouraged to individually evaluate the document and submit comments directly to UNOS. The deadline to... Read More...
June 13, 2014
The American Society of Transplantation and president, Dr. Daniel Salomon, were featured in the USA Today supplement entitled: Transplants: The Gift of Life. This 12-page supplement hit newsstands on Friday, June 13, 2014 in key cities throughout the US. It was estimated to reach more than five million readers. Dr. Salomon wrote the forward for the supplement which discusses continuing challenges in transplantation and the importance of transplant research to address those challenges. The article encourages support of research that will help to advance the field and improve patient care. To... Read More...
June 04, 2014
AST is dedicated to advancing the future of transplant research and is proud to support the House Energy and Commerce Chairman's 21st Century Cures Initiative, which aims to accelerate medical research to develop new cures and treatments for patients across the country. Read AST's letter to Congresswoman, Diana DeGette, and Congressman, Fred Upton, Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee. The primary goal of the initiative is to accelerate the pace of the discovery, development, and delivery cycle, so... Read More...

May, 2014

May 08, 2014
The AST has been working closely with the office of Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH) to garner support for his legislation (HR 4188) that seeks to exempt organ transplantation, ESRD, and other targeted conditions from classification as an admission for purposes of penalties under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). AST believes this legislative proposal is an essential and necessary step for protecting certain patient populations that would otherwise be compromised under the current law policy for hospital readmissions. The Society is working to garner cosponsors, support from Leadership in the... Read More...

March, 2014

March 27, 2014
Stephen Harms has been selected as Chief Operating Officer of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). As COO, Mr. Harms will oversee key projects that promote UNOS' strategic plan. He'll report to the Chief Executive Officer and assist in developing, planning, and implementing strategic objectives to drive successful growth. Mr. Harms served nearly 30 years in legislative and executive capacities for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He served in cabinet-level positions for Virginia Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, in roles including Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Secretary of Finance... Read More...
March 13, 2014
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) http://www.nichd.nih.gov Embargoed for Release: Thursday, March 13, 2014 CONTACT: Robert Bock, 301-496-5134 e-mail:bockr@mail.nih.gov Kerri Childress, 301-496-5133 e-mail:Kerri.Childress@nih.gov NIH OPENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL TO OUTSIDE SCIENTISTS New program tackles disease on many fronts Ten projects... Read More...
March 11, 2014
The Transplant Roundtable, a coalition of organ transplant patients, health professionals, and related organizations dedicated to preserving transplant patients' access to optimal care, recently provided comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Program; Contract Year 2015 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs (the "Proposed Rule"). The Proposed Rule would enable Part D sponsors to impose formulary restrictions on immunosuppressive drugs, resulting in substantial risk of organ rejection,... Read More...
March 10, 2014
Earlier today, the Obama Administration informed top congressional leaders that it will not finalize any of the changes it had proposed to the Six Protected Classes Policy in the Jan. 10 regulation... including the proposed removal of transplant immuno drugs from the protected class category. They note the considerable pushback received on this and some other aspects of the rule during the comment period. It was also pointed out, that the issues may be revisited in future years. As you know, AST submitted official comments opposing the rule to CMS. The AST was mentioned by name at the recent... Read More...

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