Legislation & Regulatory Updates

AST is your voice and seat at the table on Capitol Hill, within the Executive Branch, Federal Agencies and in many state capitols and legislatures. These governmental agencies dictate and have direct oversight of most aspects of transplant patient care and medical research. From clinical to research, the field of organ transplantation is heavily regulated and frequently addressed by both our elected and un-elected federal and state leaders.

AST maintains a strong bipartisan and bicameral presence to educate, cultivate and mobilize support for the Society's public policy agenda. Members of Congress, their staff, and senior HHS officials know the Society well and work with its members and the Washington, DC, government relations staff on a daily basis.

OPTN Corner

Twice a year, the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) releases proposed new policy for public comment (http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/governance/public-comment/). Members of the transplant community and the interested public are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposals. As part of its larger advocacy goals, the American Society of Transplantation reviews the policies and provides feedback, where appropriate. The Society seeks input from key constituencies to inform our commentary as follows:

1. The AST OPTN Policy Committee Chair reviews each proposed policy released for comment to identify specific Communities of Practice (COP) or Committees to review the proposals and suggest comments. 
2. COPs and/or Committees develop suggested comments that they forward to the AST's OPTN Policy Committee. Any COP may draft a reply for consideration, even if not identified as a key reviewer. Notification is also put out to the general membership.
3. The AST OPTN Policy Committee reviews all of the comments and feedback received in order to generate a single comment for each policy that shares specific thoughts or concerns and states the position of the Society where appropriate.
4. The AST OPTN Policy Committee Chair presents draft responses to the Board for approval or amendment before submission to the OPTN. 

AST comments on OPTN Policy Proposals:

Archived Updates.

AST Feedback on Pending Legislation

Archived Updates

Other Regulatory Updates

Archived Updates

Public Health Service (PHS) Guidelines

AST has provided the following comments on the PHS Guideline for Reducing the Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) through Organ Transplantation: