Our 2026 Agenda

Promoting the value of blood to patients, communities, and the healthcare system.

America’s Blood Centers and our members are committed to addressing the challenges facing community blood centers that ensure a safe and available blood supply is always available to meet patient needs.

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About this Agenda

America’s Blood Centers (ABC) urges the Administration, Congress, and industry stakeholders to promote the value of blood to patients, communities, and the healthcare system through the following actions:

Stacks of paperwork and files in the office: work overload, files management and administration concept

Cut red tape to support the safety and availability of the blood supply.

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A drop of red liquid drips from a glass pipette into a transparent test tube. A dripping drop of blood and a row of test tubes with round necks in a macro shot. Sample analysis, research in a bio or chemical laboratory. Microbiology, biochemistry.

Modernize the licensure process to allow blood centers to open quickly and safely meet the demands for blood.

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An ambulance races to respond to the scene of an emergency.

Improve patient access to blood transfusions on ambulances.

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internet security and data protection concept, blockchain and cybersecurity

Strengthen the cyber resilience of the blood community.

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Our Policy Priorities

In addition to the above priorities, ABC supports the following policy priorities:

Support a robust donor base by prioritizing blood donation as a national imperative

Establish targeted federal initiatives to support increased diversity in the donor base, such as funding for increased molecular red blood cell typing for frequently transfused patients including those with Sickle Cell Disease or Thalassemia.
Establish funding for research on the predictive social and psychological factors in blood donor motivation to attract and retain donors and ensure long-term stability of the nation’s blood supply.
Expand the pool of blood donors and available blood by funding local awareness efforts to recruit new and previously deferred donors, especially those made eligible by recent FDA eligibility changes.
Expand the availability of blood transfusions by ensuring sufficient reimbursement within the Medicare hospice program to ensure all patients can benefit from the end-of-life care provided through hospice while maintaining the quality of life provided by blood transfusions.
Provide Medicare reimbursement for blood transfusions in outpatient clinics to allow patients to receive care in their preferred settings.

Commit federal resources in support of the vital role of blood in the healthcare system

Explore federal funding mechanisms to facilitate implementation of safety and technology measures when mandated by FDA or when market incentives otherwise do not exist.

Increase federal resources for data gathering on the collection and utilization of blood components as needed to support evidence-based decision making in federal regulatory policy.

Support robust funding for research supporting a safe and available blood supply and the patients benefitting from blood components and transfusion medicine.

Advocate for funding and programs that increase the surge capacity of the nation’s blood supply including pre-determined/approved regulatory flexibility, funding for increased local awareness, national target for days on hand, funding for critical infrastructure, and a mechanism to understand both blood center and hospital inventory levels.

Reduce unnecessary and burdensome regulation to support innovation and blood product availability

Apply evidence-based decision making to FDA testing requirements to ensure testing burdens are justified by commensurate increases in safety, eliminating current FDA testing requirements without appropriate safety justifications (e.g. HBsAg).

Revisit FDA policy on the acceptance of international data for use in the approval of new products or technologies, and different policies and procedures.

Lower the U.S. Platelet Content Requirement (PCR), the minimum number of platelets per unit, to expand platelet supply availability and in line with international standards.

Implement a rational, flexible approach to the regulation of plasma products, advocating FDA licensure of recovered plasma to give blood centers the ability to convert plasma from transfusable to further manufacture without requiring expiration for more effective blood inventory management.

Allow blood to be held for up to 24 hours prior to processing into components in line with current evidence and international standards.

Reduce the deferral period for those incarcerated for more than 72 hours to three months, in line with other deferrals for similar risk of contracting diseases that are transfusion transmitted.

Our Value Framework

Our Advocacy Agenda was built through our Value Framework, which consists of five core pillars that emphasize the contribution ABC member blood centers bring to their local communities and the nation’s healthcare system.

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ABC member blood centers ensure a safe and adequate blood supply, saving and improving the lives of millions of Americans each year
ABC members promote the altruistic gift of blood from millions of individuals nationwide, maintaining a critical donor base and educating current and future generations on the need for blood
ABC members re-invest in the health of their local communities through such things as cellular therapy services, transfusion medicine expertise, disease management programs, and research
ABC members partner with federal, state, and local agencies to confront public health threats and promote medical and scientific innovation
ABC members provide competition in the market, ensuring value while controlling overall healthcare market expenditures for blood components

Find your local community blood center

Enter your zip code to find your nearest blood center. Contact them to learn how to host a blood drive, encourage people in your network to donate blood or volunteer at a blood drive, and more.

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