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

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, representing Blessed by His Blood (a nonprofit cooperative that matches donors and recipients), said the practice is “legal, safe, and have[s] a decades-long history of prior use.” Sierra Hamm, a registered nurse, pointed to research comparing transmission risks and said directed donation has not shown increased harm in large studies.

Hospital and blood-supply representatives cautioned the committee about costs, logistics and safety. Dr. Cole Elliott, medical director for the American Red Cross in Wyoming, told the committee he opposes the bill as written because autologous and directed donations are already available under current practice and law. Elliott said directed donations are not safer than volunteer blood donations and warned smaller hospitals could face operational strain: “These units require specific procuring and labeling to ensure they are reserved for a certain recipient. These donations must often be specifically shipped… incurring additional costs.” Eric Poelhling of the Wyoming Hospital Association said requiring facilities to accept directed units could conflict with hospital operations and federal rules governing long-term care; he noted the risk to facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds.

The committee debated three fee approaches: (1) a fixed cap of 15% above a regular fee (failed), (2) a cap of 300% (failed), and (3) language that a facility may charge “a reasonable fee commensurate to their actual expenses” (adopted as the committee’s amendment). Senator Crum warned the committee the real incremental cost could be two to three times the normal payment because of separate handling and verification, and noted the paying party would likely be the patient or the facility.

Votes at a glance: The committee held a roll-call vote on House Bill 135 as amended. The final tally was 2 yes, 3 no; the bill did not pass out of committee.

Why it matters: The bill addresses patient choice in transfusion care, a topic that intersects medical practice, hospital operations and public safety protocols. Supporters said the bill protects medical freedom for patients who want directed or autologous transfusions; opponents warned that codifying access without clarifying operational and regulatory responsibilities could risk smaller hospitals and complicate compliance with federal programs.

The committee record shows extensive public comment from patient-advocacy and nonprofit groups, clinicians and blood-supply organizations. Legislators asked about safety screening, the typical 40-day shelf life for stored blood cited by witnesses, and which party would bear additional costs. After the vote, the bill did not advance from committee; sponsors said they would continue to work on fee and implementation language.

Sources and evidence: Public witnesses included Clinton Ollers (vice president, Safe Blood U.S. branch), Liz James (Blessed by His Blood), Sierra Hamm (registered nurse, The Reconciliation), and Dr. Cole Elliott (American Red Cross, Wyoming medical director). The committee’s debate and roll-call vote appear in the hearing transcript.