[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 205 (Friday, October 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64424-64425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26904]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and 
Availability

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that 
the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability 
(ACBTSA) will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public.

DATES: The meeting will take place Monday, November 9, 2015, from 8:00 
a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, November 10, 2015, from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Veterans' Health Administration National Conference Center, 
2011 Crystal Drive, 1st floor Conference Center, Crystal City, VA 
22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Berger, Designated Federal 
Officer for the ACBTSA, Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and 
Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20852. 
Phone: (240) 453-8803; Fax (240) 453-8456; Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACBTSA provides advice to the Secretary 
through the Assistant Secretary for Health. The Committee advises on a 
range of policy issues to include: (1) Identification of public health 
issues through surveillance of blood and tissue safety issues with 
national biovigilance data tools; (2) identification of public health 
issues that affect availability of blood, blood products, and tissues; 
(3) broad public health, ethical and legal issues related to the safety 
of blood, blood products, and tissues; (4) the impact of various 
economic factors (e.g., product cost and supply) on safety and 
availability of blood, blood products, and tissues; (5) risk 
communications related to blood transfusion and tissue transplantation; 
and (6) identification of infectious disease transmission issues for 
blood, organs, blood stem cells and tissues. The Committee has met 
regularly since its establishment in 1997.
    In December 2013, the Committee made recommendations regarding the 
blood system. At that time, the Committee expressed concern about the 
ongoing reductions in blood use, the number of large scale 
consolidations occurring, the cost recovery issues for blood centers, 
and the potential effects on safety and innovation due to instability. 
Past recommendations made by the ACBTSA may be viewed at www.hhs.gov/bloodsafety.
    This meeting will provide a focused examination of the mechanisms 
to fund recently approved blood safety innovations, such as pathogen

[[Page 64425]]

reduction, bacterial testing, and infectious disease testing. It is 
anticipated that the implementation of these blood safety innovations 
will come with significant costs to blood collection centers, and it 
remains unclear how or if the blood industry can afford such 
implementation. Speakers will include a broad range of stakeholders 
including blood banks, physicians, blood purchasers, and organizations 
that reimburse for blood and blood products.
    The public will have an opportunity to present their views to the 
Committee during a public comment session scheduled for November 10, 
2015. Comments will be limited to five minutes per speaker and must be 
pertinent to the discussion. Pre-registration is required for 
participation in the public comment session. Any member of the public 
who would like to participate in this session is required to contact 
the Designated Federal Officer at his/her earliest convenience to 
register for time (limited to 5 minutes); registration must be 
completed prior to close of business on November 2, 2015. If it is not 
possible to provide 30 copies of the material to be distributed at the 
meeting, then individuals are requested to provide a minimum of one (1) 
copy of the document(s) to be distributed prior to the close of 
business on November 2, 2015. It is also requested that any member of 
the public who wishes to provide comments to the Committee utilizing 
electronic data projection submit the necessary material to the 
Designated Federal Officer prior to the close of business on November 
2, 2015.

    Dated: October 16, 2015.
James J. Berger,
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Safety Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-26904 Filed 10-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-41-P