The Latest in ASTCT Advocacy: September 2025
Introducing Molly Ford, Director of Government Relations and Peyer Relations
ASTCT is welcomes Molly Ford, MPP, as our new Director of Government Relations and Payer Relations. Molly will be spearheading ASTCT’s advocacy efforts and working closely with the Goverment Relations and Payer Relations Committees.
Molly Ford brings nearly 15 years of experience providing strategic guidance, advocacy and policy analysis on state and federal issues to a wide range of associations and coalitions. With more than 18 years in the field, she has supported client advocacy efforts, developed strategic partnerships, facilitated clinical practice guidelines and research and produced quality and cost data.
Prior to joining ASTCT, Molly helped launch a multi-hospital accountable care organization (ACO) in Ohio and oversaw the ACO’s practitioner contracts and relations. Preceding this work, Molly served on U.S. Senator Mike Crapo’s healthcare policy team.
Hill Day 2025
On September 10, 2025, ASTCT board members, volunteers and advocates from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for Hill Day 2025. Collectively, ASTCT met with 45 House and Senate offices from 21 different states to advocate for increased NIH funding and increased patient access to lifesaving transplantation and cellular therapies.
The 2025 agenda focused on:
- NIH funding and protection
- The Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act
- C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program*
*Partnering with NMPD, ASTCT is advocating for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, which supports more than $30 million in federal funding to maintain and expand access to life-saving bone marrow and blood cell transplants. The program ensures patients with blood cancers and disorders can find matched donors and receive timely treatment.
Keep the Momentum Going: Send a Letter to Congress
You can still make a difference. Use our Congress Plus platform to tell your representatives why access to transplantation and cellular therapy matters. Every message strengthens our voice.
HCT Coverage and Reimbursement Guide
ASTCT and NMDP recently released the HCT Coverage & Reimbursement Guide. This practical reference helps navigate the complex processes surrounding hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The Guide covers essential topics, including insurance types, benefit screening, contracting, authorization workflows and registration and billing procedures for HCT cases. While it does not detail all payer-specific requirements, the HCT Guide provides a comprehensive foundation to support your work.
You can now watch the recording of the recent webinar, HCT Coverage & Reimbursement Guide, featuring Mylove Mortel of University of Chicago Medicine and Gary Goldstein of Stanford Health Care. The webinar provides an overview of ASTCT’s and NMDP’s latest HCT coding and reimbursement resources available on ASTCT’s webpage.
ASTCT Final Comments on the FY 2026 IPPS Proposed Rule
Earlier this summer, ASTCT responded to CMS’ FY 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule and addressed the following:
1) MS-DRG 018: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell and Other Immunotherapies
2) MS-DRG 014: Allogeneic Bone Marrow (Stem Cell) Transplantation
3) MS-DRG 016 & 017: Autologous Bone Marrow (Stem Cell) Transplant with/without CC/MCC
CMS issued its final rule for the FY2026 IPPS in early August.
ASTCT will also respond to CMS’ proposed rules for the FY 2026 Outpatient Prospective Payment System and the National Physician Fee Schedule. Look for draft comments the week of September 8.
Upcoming Policy and Regulatory Webinar
RFI Webinar
Tuesday, September 30 | 12:00 p.m. ET
This webinar will provide clarity on the purpose and evolving standards of the RFI, its connection to payer-provider relationships and its integration with CIBMTR data. This session is intended for data coordinators, program managers and anyone involved in RFI completion, and is open to all ASTCT members and non-members.
Registration details will be available soon on the ASTCT website.
One Big Beauitful Bill
After months of deliberation and debate, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which overhauls the U.S. Tax Code, was signed into law in early July. ASTCT will continue to pay close attention to the impact that this bill will have on patient access and hospital resources. The bill’s implementation timeline is staggered, with some provisions taking immediate effect and others taking effect over the next few years