Legislation Would Expand Access to Blood Transfusions for Hospice Patients

Patients in hospice could gain greater access to palliative blood transfusions under bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2026 would direct the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a payment model that reimburses blood transfusions separately from Medicare's hospice all-inclusive per diem payment. Under current Medicare policy, hospices must absorb the cost of blood transfusions within the per diem payment, which may limit their ability to offer transfusions that can improve comfort and quality of life for patients receiving end-of-life care.

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., introduced the House bill, while Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is championing companion legislation in the Senate. AABB welcomes the introduction of the legislation and commends Rep. Dingell and Sen. Rosen for their leadership in advancing access to palliative transfusions.