Report recommends federal policies to ensure sustainable U.S. blood system

Medical advances have reduced the demand for blood in the United States, creating financial pressure on the nation’s blood collection centers and threatening their future survival, according to a study prepared by RAND Corporation for the Department of Health and Human Services, released this week. To improve the sustainability of the U.S. blood system, the report recommends that federal officials collect comprehensive data about performance of the blood system; better define appropriate levels of surge capacity; build relationships with brokers and other entities to form a blood “safety net”; build and implement a value framework for new technology; and implement emergency use authorization and contingency planning for key supplies and inputs.