Noteworthy Issues in Cellular Therapy
A quarterly update on critical issues in Cellular Therapy
FALL 2007
NEW! Assessing Current Practices
AABB is pleased to announce a new activity—“Practice Snapshots for Cellular Therapy.” As a part of this effort, we will regularly assess practice within the field on a variety of focused topics through quick online surveys. The surveys will be open for responses for two weeks and then analysis and results will be posted on the AABB Web site in the Cell Therapies section. Results from any previous surveys will remain on the Web site for archived purposes. Topics for "Practice Snapshots" are being solicited. Please submit your idea to celltherapy@aabb.org. The first survey will assess current practices in donor screening methods in cell therapy application. Click here to participate.
Reimbursement Increased For Cell Processing
Good news on the reimbursement front: CMS has proposed to recognize for the first time bone marrow/stem cell processing codes 38207-38215. AABB, along with ASH and ASBMT, had worked hard to urge CMS to recognize these codes and establish fair payments for these procedures. The proposed payment rate for codes 38207-38209 (cryopreservation and thawing codes) is $54.69 (compared with $14.11 now), and the proposed payment for codes 38210-38215 (cell depletion codes) is $222.44 (compared with $212.58). AABB and ASH are working toward obtaining specific cost data to substantiate better reimbursement for laboratory-specific processing. CMS noted that in the future when it receives charge data for the individual cell depletion codes, the agency will be able to distinguish between the costs of the various procedures and set more appropriate payments. CMS also has proposed a dramatic 63 percent increase in payment for bone marrow collection and related procedures (codes 38230, 38240 and 38241) from $1,251.38 in 2007 to $2,035.93 in 2008. Hospitals would be paid the same amount for other apheresis and photopheresis-related procedures included under this APC code (0112). For additional details, go to www.aabb.org > Programs and Services > Billing and Reimbursement Initiatives.
Cell Therapy Topics to Be Featured at Annual Meeting
Cell therapy will be featured prominently during the scientific oral sessions at the 2007 AABB Annual Meeting & TXPO. “Ex Vivo Production of Human Red Cells by Co-culture with MSCs” will be presented during the plenary session, and there will be two full scientific oral sessions on cellular therapy topics. AABB continues to experience both an increase in quantity — up 15 percent from last year — as well as an increase in quality of abstracts submitted for presentation. For a complete list of the CT sessions check out the Annual Meeting Program. All cellular therapy and tissue management sessions are designated by “CT” at the end of the session codes. With each hour packed with several choices, cell therapists will find value in every minute.
Annual Meeting Technology Tools
Starting September 17, AABB Annual Meeting & TXPO attendees will be able to access an online Itinerary Planner, allowing you to select sessions in advance and export them to Outlook. Before leaving for the Annual Meeting, simply sync with your PDA or print out your calendar the old-fashioned way. Either way, you’ll be prepared when you arrive in Anaheim with a detailed itinerary, complete with the room number for each session you plan to attend. The AABB Virtual Posters on Demand Kiosks allow the 50 top-rated Scientific and Administrative “Outstanding Posters” to be available for viewing on computer stations near the poster presentations. This gives AABB the opportunity to showcase the top 10 percent of posters as well as extend the life of the poster presentations by leaving them available online for review well after the show. Stop by these kiosks and let us know what you think about this innovative approach.
Cell Therapy Projects Awarded National Blood Foundation Grants
The NBF this year awarded eight grants to early-career researchers totaling nearly half a million dollars, three of which were in the area of cellular or gene therapy. Each project winner receives a maximum of $65,000 per grant. Descriptions of this year’s winning projects as well as application details for 2008 grants can be found online at www.aabb.org> Programs and Services> National Blood Foundation. NBF has awarded $5 million in grants since 1985.
Stay in Touch with Updated Communications Vehicles
AABB has rolled out new and updated communications vehicles during the past year to enhance the information provided to members and the entire cellular therapy community. AABB SmartBrief is a daily e-briefing offered to both members and nonmembers through a free subscription. Through this service, summaries of the day’s top news stories in cellular therapy, transfusion medicine and health care in general, with links to the full articles, are e-mailed to your in-box. Each brief also includes “Association News” items. A quick and convenient way to keep informed of the latest news, AABB SmartBrief already has more than 11,000 readers. AABB Weekly Report is delivered to members every Friday, providing brief summaries of the latest government, industry and association news, with links to more detailed content on the Web. Cellular therapy items are conveniently labeled with “CT” for quick reference. AABB members can access past issues of the e-mail newsletter at www.aabb.org>Newsletters and Journal>AABB Weekly Report. And AABB News — the association magazine offering in-depth news and feature stories on a variety of topics in the transfusion medicine and cellular therapies fields — has increased in frequency from bimonthly to monthly. Each issue offers cell therapy-related content. E-mail suggested news article topics to news@aabb.org. TRANSFUSION, AABB's highly rated peer-reviewed journal, continues to feature a section for cell therapy which includes articles on tranplantation, as well. Go to http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/trf for more information.
New Developments: ISBT 128 for CT
Terminology and labeling standards for ISBT 128 for cellular therapy were published in the July edition of TRANSFUSION, and other journals are expected to follow suit in publishing the standards. This marks the first time an international group has agreed on uniform product names, terminology and labeling standards in this area. At the country-specific level, much work remains to be done, and a new group — the U.S. Consensus on Labeling — is forming to resolve issues specifically related to U.S. requirements. Background and additional details may be found by visiting the Cellular Therapies section of the AABB Web site. AABB and ISCT co-hosted an audioconference on this topic on Aug. 15. For those who missed it, handouts and a recording of the session can be purchased through the AABB Live Learning Center. Accrediting organizations are expected to begin using standard ISBT 128 terminology and to gradually implement a requirement for an implementation plan. Visit the AABB Web site for updates.
Web Site Updates
Many changes are in progress as we continually strive to help provide you with the information you need. Cellular therapy content is best found under Programs and Services>Cellular Therapies. This area is specifically designed for the professional and contains the latest on hot topics and issues, including regulatory updates, important meeting summaries and quick links to resources such as donor history questionnaires and the Circular of Information. AABB staff provide in-depth analysis of certain FDA and other meetings as well as important links to regulatory documents. A new section on the AABB Web site includes information specific to HCT/Ps and the unique regulatory framework of these products. Bookmark it today for quick and easy reference to this material that will help with your regulatory and compliance needs.