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Transplant News

March, 2014

March 06, 2014
A video podcast developed by OPTN and UNOS entitled "The New Kidney Allocation System: What Referring Physicians Need to Know” is now available on the OPTN and Transplant Pro websites.  View the video on the OPTN website View the video on the UNIOS Transplant Pro website Download the slides here to follow along with the... Read More...
March 03, 2014
UNOS welcomes applications for a Chief Medical Officer (CMO), an executive-level position reporting to UNOS’ Chief Executive Officer. As a member of the UNOS senior staff, the CMO serves as an expert medical and clinical resource to other UNOS staff, committee members, the government, and the general public in the performance of OPTN contract requirements and other UNOS corporate initiatives. He or she will provide advice with respect to the medical and clinical aspects of OPTN operations, including participation in OPTN policy development, policy compliance, patient safety-related incident... Read More...

February, 2014

February 26, 2014
The American Society of Transplantation has serious concerns regarding the proposed rule to remove immunosuppressant medications for transplant rejection prophylaxis as a protected class under Medicare Parts C and D. To view the full statement please follow the link below: AST Statement Regarding Transplant community opposition to CMS proposal to remove Immunosuppressive medications from Medicare Part D Protected Class category  
February 26, 2014
The American Society of Transplantation (AST) Raises Concerns about Plans to Limit Medicare Drug Coverage; Calls Potential Changes “Life-Threatening” AST strongly opposes the CMS proposed rule to remove immunosuppressant medications as a protected class under Medicare Parts C and D WASHINGTON, DC – February 26, 2014 – The American Society of Transplantation (AST), representing the majority of professionals engaged in the field of organ transplantation, today expressed their concern about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule to eliminate immunosuppressive... Read More...
February 21, 2014
Visit the AST Timely Topics in Transplantation webinar series webpage to view archived recordings of live webinars, including the "Complying with New UNOS Living Donor Care Policies" webinar which took place on February 18. Thank you to the presenters for their hard work in developing and presenting the informative content: Jennifer Milton BSN, CCTC, MBA of University Transplant Center and Rebecca Hays, MSW of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.
February 19, 2014
The AST recently submitted a letter to the Food and Drug Administration regarding draft guidance for (510(k)) submissions for nucleic acid-based HLA test kits. The AST endorsed comments from the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) regarding this FDA draft guidance for industry Docket. View ASHI's comments here. View the AST's letter here.
February 07, 2014
Registration and housing is now open for the 2014 World Transplant Congress (WTC)! Register now and book your housing for the World Transplant Congress (WTC) in San Francisco, CA July 26-31, 2014.  Please make sure that your membership is current before registering. You must be a member in good standing by April 1, 2014.

January, 2014

January 29, 2014
The archived version of AST's January 21 webinar on the new OPTN/UNOS kidney allocation policy is now available for viewing 24/7: free to AST members and $25 for non-members. UNOS will also offer numerous programs to prepare transplant professionals for the changes coming in 2014.

December, 2013

December 30, 2013
The AST recently sent letters to both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee Chairs & Ranking Members. The letters urged for the strongest possible FY 2014 302(b) allocation for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee within the discretionary cap established by the recently Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (BBA). The Labor-HHS appropriations bill impacts nearly every American through its services and programs including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and vital medical research... Read More...
December 17, 2013
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health NIH News NIH Office of the Director For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 Contact: NIH Office of Communications 301-496-5787 nmb@od.nih.gov New Clinical Research Network Holds Great Promise for Improving Treatments for Patients Funding the most effective ways of detecting, treating, and preventing disease is essential to medical progress. Such efforts are known as comparative effectiveness research (CER) and help determine what... Read More...

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