Previous Advocacy Updates

Pathology practices should apply early for new small business assistance loans for the Paycheck Protection Program federal assistance.

On April 3, federal assistance programs, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, began offering loans to small businesses. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created more than $350 billion in emergency aid for small businesses during the COVID-19 national emergency and economic downturn.

Through a strategic advocacy campaign deploying the necessary resources only the CAP can provide, the CAP persuaded the federal government to issue a waiver that allows pathologists to work remotely during this national emergency.

The CAP asked to clarify insurance coverage for COVID-19 tests, suspend 2021 Medicare cuts to clinical laboratory services, and provide funds for critical relief to hospitals preparing for the surge of patients in the $2 trillion economic stimulus bill.

The CMS granted the CAP’s request for a temporary waiver giving pathologists the flexibility needed to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CAP urged the CMS and engaged with Congress to allow pathologists and laboratory personnel to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) informed the CAP that it will suspend mandatory CLIA inspections for laboratories for a period of three weeks.

The CDC strongly encouraged clinical laboratories that are developing and implementing their own COVID-19 tests to contact their state public health department first.

The FDA issued guidance to expand testing capacity by facilitating the development of molecular SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic assays (coronavirus).

Join state pathology leaders from across the country at the Pathologist Leadership Summit, May 2-5, 2020 on this page.

The House Ways & Means Committee overwhelmingly voted to support the CAP-backed Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020 to resolve billing disputes between insurers and physicians.

The House Ways and Means Committee released legislation that features provisions advocated for by the CAP to resolve billing disputes between insurers and physicians.

The CAP urged CMS to consider the complexity of pathology practice when requiring group health plans to disclose price and cost-sharing information.

The CAP, the AMA, and ten other physician groups engaged with Congress on developing bipartisan legislation that will protect patients from surprise bills and safeguard access to care.

The CAP and the AMA took issue with proposed scope of practice policy changes and their potential adverse impacts on the quality of patient care.

Solutions provided by the CAP allowed pathologists to prevent a -5% penalty to their Medicare reimbursement in 2020.

The CAP urged the CMS to adjust several proposed changes to the Medicare physician self-referral law, commonly referred to as the Stark law.

Before going to recess for 2019, Congress passed a $1.4 trillion spending package for 2020 and listened to the CAP’s concerns regarding rates for out-of-network care.

While Congress debated how to address surprise medical bills, the CAP mobilized pathologists to engage representatives and senators to ensure our views were heard.