Wyoming committee hears split testimony on bill to preserve directed and autologous blood donations

Summary

The Labor, Health & Social Services Committee considered House Bill 135, which would clarify access and fees for directed and autologous blood donations. Supporters said the bill preserves patient choice; hospitals and the Red Cross warned of logistics, safety and costs. The committee amended fee language and ultimately voted against the bill.

House Bill 135, a proposal to protect directed and autologous blood donation options and to set allowable fees for those services, drew hours of public testimony and two amendments before failing on a roll-call vote.

The bill’s sponsor summarized prior testimony and objections, then asked the committee to consider an amendment limiting fee charges for directed or autologous units. “If we’re going to amend that language of not more than the regular fee,” the sponsor said, “I would suggest not to exceed 15% of their fee,” and left the final number to the committee.

Supporters at the hearing told the committee that patients want the option to receive their own blood or blood from identified donors. Clinton Ollers, vice president of Safe Blood (U.S. branch) and executive director of Safe Blood Blood Foundation, said autologous donation can protect patients who fear contaminants in transfused blood. “The safest blood a person can receive is their own,” Ollers said, and urged lawmakers to “protect it.” Liz James,…

Wyoming committee hears split testimony on bill to preserve directed and autologous blood donations

Summary

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