[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8731-8732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04408]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


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

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

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, April 15, 2019, from 8:00 
a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, April 16, 2019, from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, (Conference Room 800), 200 Independence Ave. SW, 
Washington, DC 20201.

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 survey and 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.

[[Page 8732]]

    In 2013, updates were made to the original 1994 Public Health 
Service Guidelines on Reducing HIV, HBV, and HCV through Organ 
Transplantation (``PHS Guidelines''). Public and private-sector 
stakeholders in organ transplantation are now seeking to explore 
potential important updates to the PHS Guidelines in order to maintain 
accordance with current health sector circumstances.
    The Committee will meet on April 15-16, 2019 to receive 
presentations from various public and private sector stakeholders and 
to listen to public comments regarding the PHS Guidelines. The 
Committee will explore important questions to consider as the PHS 
Guidelines are examined for any such necessary updates. Finally, the 
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 the second day 
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 April 8, 2019. 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 April 8, 2019. 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 April 8, 2019.

    Dated: February 26, 2019.
James J. Berger,
Senior Advisor for Blood and Tissue Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-04408 Filed 3-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-41-P