Premier Weighs in on FDA’s Proposed New Guidance on Blood Donation for Individuals Identifying as LGBTQ+

Premier submitted comments to the FDA on its updated guidance on blood donations that is based on an individual risk assessment, rather than gender or sexual orientation. Premier strongly supports the new draft recommendations as a positive step forward in ensuring blood supply safety and resiliency while addressing the inequities that exist for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and their eligibility to donate blood.

Early last year, Premier drew attention to this inequity and advocated for action. Congressional offices took note and pressed the FDA to revise its policy. In response, the FDA launched a review of the blood donation rules for previously excluded LGBTQ+ individuals and a study to evaluate alternatives to what Premier has identified as a discriminatory policy. Premier encouraged its employees to participate in the trials.

In its comments, Premier urged FDA to expeditiously finalize the draft guidance, minimize operational burden to implementing the new risk-based protocols and clarify that implementation of the guidance upon finalization is mandatory, not permissive.