AST Policy Committee to Meet With Members of Congress

Key Transplant Issues Top Agenda

December 13, 2006

WASHINGTON /PRNewswire/ -- On Dec. 14, 2006, members of the American Society of Transplantation's (AST) Public Policy Committee will "fly-in" to Washington, D.C. to meet with the offices of Members of Congress, newly elected Representatives and Senators, as well as senior officials within the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medical Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Division of Transplantation (DoT), and the White House Commission on Bioethics. The event is being held in preparation for the new 110th Session of Congress, scheduled to convene on Jan. 4, 2007. The purpose of the fly-in is to meet with senior staff and policy advisors in many of the Congressional offices in an effort to brief them on key transplantation issues prior to Jan. 4 and the new Congress.

Focus on Transplantation Issues

The AST Policy Committee has prepared a full agenda for the day, which begins at 8:00 a.m. The key issues that will be discussed with both new Congressional leaders, incumbents and freshman Members of Congress, include:

• Immunosuppressive drug coverage expansion
• Organ donation initiatives
• National Institute of Health (NIH) research
• A focus on pediatric issues in transplantation and key pediatric health legislation
• Transplantation quality measures

AST's Public Policy Committee has also been working closely in Washington, D.C. with the White House Commission on Bioethics and the forum's recent interest in the field of solid organ transplantation.

About the AST Public Policy Committee

AST's Public Policy Committee, which is comprised of transplant professionals, regularly delivers the AST public policy message to Congress and the Administration. This strategy has been effective in ensuring that Members of Congress and Capitol Hill staff are aware of the issues that impact transplantation. AST Public Policy Committee members are also committed to increasing the level of awareness of transplant issues.

About AST

The American Society of Transplantation is an international organization of transplant professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation through the promotion of research, education, advocacy, and organ donation to improve patient care. The Society comprises more than 2,600 transplant physicians, surgeons and allied health professionals. In 2007, AST will celebrate its 25th Anniversary.

For more information about AST, please visit www.a-s-t.org.

Contact: Beth Drost (215) 884-6499

Source: American Society of Transplantation

Copyright © 1997-2006 American Society of Transplantation.

This article posted December 25, 2006.