[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 73118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25650]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 28, 2016, from 9:30 
a.m.-4:00 p.m. and Tuesday November 29, 2016, from 8:30 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, Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW., Suite L100, 
Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202)-795-7697; Fax: (202)-691-2102; 
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. 
In November 2015, the Committee made recommendations again, reaffirming 
the December 2013 recommendations, highlighting the worsening 
conditions, and suggesting potential initiatives to address the issues 
in the blood system. Past recommendations made by the ACBTSA may be 
viewed at http://www.hhs.gov/ohaidp/initiatives/blood-tissue-safety/advisory-committee/index.html.
    The Committee will meet on November 28-29, 2016 to hear the 
findings from the HHS sponsored RAND study, ``Toward a Sustainable 
Blood Supply in the United States: An Analysis of the Current System 
and Alternatives for the Future.'' The ACBTSA Subcommittee on Blood 
System Sustainability will present their response to the study, and the 
full Committee will discuss and develop appropriate recommendations for 
HHS consideration. Additional topics that are pertinent to the mission 
of the Committee may be added to the agenda.
    The public will have an opportunity to present their views to the 
Committee during public comment sessions scheduled for both days of the 
meeting. 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 submit 
their name, email, and comment summary prior to close of business on 
November 17, 2016. 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 17, 2016. 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 17, 2016.

    Dated: October 18, 2016.
James J. Berger,
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-25650 Filed 10-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-41-P