Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy

Original Text 

To Paul L Yde; April 17, 1997. (Standard-setting and accreditation program for organizations involved in medical or laboratory practice related to hematopoietic progenitor cell therapy).

In general, private standard-setting and certification or accreditation programs have the potential to promote competition by providing useful information to consumers. Such programs can make it easier for consumers to obtain useful information and to select among providers of a product or service. By providing information about quality and performance of products or services, standard-setting programs may facilitate quality competition and price/quality comparisons, increase consumer confidence in product quality and thereby increase demand, and facilitate entry by new sellers.

An evaluation of the process proposed by FAHCT in light of these principles does not reveal grounds for concern that the program raises inherent antitrust concerns. Providing information about the quality and services of hematopoietic progenitor cell transplant services providers is potentially beneficial to consumers, and the standards do not appear, on their face, unduly to restrict competition among accredited entities in ways not reasonably related to FAHCT's legitimate purposes in establishing the standards.