ASH is committed to helping practicing hematologists provide quality care to patients, continue their professional development, and enhance their knowledge and expertise.
Learn about ASH Committees on Quality and Practice
- The Guideline Oversight Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Committee on Quality, oversees the development of ASH clinical practice guidelines.
- The Quality Measure Oversight Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Committee on Quality, coordinates the identification, prioritization, development, and management of a set of quality measures that aims to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of hematology care that patients receive.
- The Subcommittee on Quality Improvement Education and Training, a subcommittee of the Committee on Quality, establishes and coordinates the identification, prioritization, development, and management of resources and programs which aim to improve the quality improvement (QI) education and training available to practicing hematologists.
- The Subcommittee on Stewardship and Systems-Based Hematology, a subcommittee of the Committee on Quality, coordinates the development of sessions, programs, educational materials, publications, and other activities designed to further ASH’s goal of encouraging stewardship of resources, enhancing patient safety, and promoting the concept of “systems-based hematology” as a viable career path for hematologists.
- The Reimbursement Subcommittee, a subcommittee of the Committee on Practice, ensures that ASH addresses federal legislation and regulation affecting reimbursement for practicing clinical hematologists.
- The Committee on Quality promotes the highest quality care of patients with hematologic diseases and is responsible for overseeing and implementing the ASH Executive Committee-approved quality initiative, including but not limited to the development of clinical practice guidelines; tools and resources to aid dissemination and implementation of the guidelines including pocket guides, teaching slide sets, clinical pathways, patient versions, educational modules, and adaptation efforts; quality performance measures; quality toolkits; educational programming during the ASH annual meeting; promotion of research in quality and health care outcomes among hematologist and others; response to policy-related efforts and representing the Society at quality forums and meetings.
- The Committee on Practice is concerned with all issues affecting the practice of hematology. The Committee communicates with other organizations that have programs and policies that affect hematology practice. With appropriate review and approval by the Executive Committee, the Committee on Practice responds to practice-related issues by formulating positions on pending federal legislation, regulatory issues, and private insurance developments.
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Ask The Hematologist
Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura Versus Inherited Thrombocytopenia in Adults
Dr. Anne Neff outlines a rational approach to distinguishing between immune thrombocytopenia purpura and inherited thrombocytopenia.
Ask the Hematologists: Treating Acquired TTP With Multiple Relapses
Drs. Chancellor Donald and Cindy Leissinger discuss their approach to acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with multiple relapses.
Ask the Cardiologist: Ibrutinib Therapy and Risk of Serious Rhythm Disturbances
Dr. Daniel Lenihan discusses whether ibrutinib therapy can increase the risk of serious rhythm disturbances.
Ask the Hematologist: Safety and Efficacy of Biosimilars for Hematologic Malignancies
Dr. Gary Lyman examines the safety and efficacy of biosimilars approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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FDA Alerts
FDA Approves Polatuzumab Vedotin-piiq for Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
The Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (POLIVY, Genentech, Inc.), a CD79b-directed antibody-drug conjugate indicated in combination with bendamustine and a rituximab product for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, after at least two prior therapies.
FDA Approves Addition of Survival Data to Gilteritinib Label for Refractory AML with a FLT3 Mutation
The Food and Drug Administration approved the addition of overall survival data in labeling for gilteritinib (XOSPATA, Astellas Pharma US, Inc.), indicated for adult patients who have relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a FLT3 mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test.
FDA Approves Lenalidomide for Follicular and Marginal Zone Lymphoma
The Food and Drug Administration approved lenalidomide (REVLIMID®, Celgene Corp.) in combination with a rituximab product for previously treated follicular lymphoma (FL) and previously treated marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).
FDA Approves Dalteparin Sodium for VTE in Pediatric Patients
The Food and Drug Administration approved dalteparin sodium (FRAGMIN, Pfizer, Inc.) to reduce the recurrence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pediatric patients 1 month of age and older.
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Policy News
CAR T-cell Therapy: An Update on Coverage and Reimbursement
ASH continues to advocate for adequate coverage and reimbursement for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. In early August, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized policies impacting both reimbursement of and coverage for CAR-T therapy. The final Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule, published on August 2, and the final Decision Memo for CAR T-cell Therapy for Cancers, issued August 7.
2018 ASH Advocacy Activities
ASH continues to increase its efforts to expand and enhance the Society’s reach. NIH funding, efforts to ensure patient access to drugs, and sickle cell disease were top priorities on ASH’s advocacy agenda in 2018.
2018 ASH Advocacy Efforts Related to Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait
ASH continues to invest in and explore the important actions needed to make a significant difference in sickle cell disease (SCD) access to care, research, and global issues. Learn about the major advocacy-related initiatives undertaken by ASH in 2018.
2018 ASH Advocacy Efforts to Ensure Patient Access to Care
In 2018, ASH worked to ensure patient access to care through a number of methods including ensuring drug access, pain management-related issues, and the Affordable Care Act.