Many families who are interested in cord blood banking ask for ways to make the services more affordable.  In response to this, CBR has been actively supporting the Family Cord Blood Banking Act, which would allow families to use tax-free health dollars to pay for family cord blood banking.  We are happy to tell you that the legislation has just been introduced by U.S. Representatives Wally Herger (R-CA) and Ron Kind (D-WI).  This important legislation would amend the IRS Code to allow individuals and couples to use flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangements (HRA) or the medical expenses tax deduction to pay for umbilical cord blood banking services.

CBR joined in broad-based support for this act with the Coalition for Regenerative Stem Cell Medicine, which includes groups like the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), the Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH), the Parents Guide to Cord Blood Foundation and a growing number of organizations, researchers, and disease advocacy groups dedicated to raising awareness and lowering financial barriers of access to cord blood stem cells.

Speaking on his support for the bill, Congressman Herger, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee said, “This common sense legislation will allow families and individuals to use their tax-free health dollars for a medical expense that can truly save lives.”