Previous Advocacy Updates

As congressional discussions about funding the government continue, the CAP is urging pathologists to contact their members of Congress to urge them to pass legislation to provide additional relief from the Medicare cuts scheduled to take effect in 2024.

In its formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the CAP urged the federal agency to stop Medicare cuts to pathologists next year, make the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) less taxing on pathologists, and maintain remote sign-out capabilities for pathologists under CLIA.

The CAP requested a meeting with First Coast Service Options, a Medicare Administrative Contract (MAC), servicing providers in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Novitas, providers in DC, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, to discuss a new requirement for pathologists to document how the digitization of glass microscope slides is medically reasonable and necessary when submitting claims.

The CAP improved both local and national coverage processes to ensure access to timely, quality care for Medicare patients over the years. This work includes ensuring appropriate conditional coverage through an effective and efficient coverage with evidence development (CED) process.

It may seem counterintuitive, but summer is one of the best times to advocate on behalf of pathologists to your members of Congress. There may be a misconception that Congress does not work at all during its summer recess. Many legislators seize the opportunity to spend time back in their district or state to hear from their constituents. CAP members can educate their legislators this summer on several of the CAP’s legislative objectives. Even if you attended the DC fly-in earlier this year for the Pathologists Leadership Summit, August recess advocacy is a different type of legislative engagement that is just as important.

The CAP sent out an Action Alert to its grassroots advocacy network encouraging outreach to their legislators to sign a Dear Colleague letter to House leadership that emphasized the urgent need of Medicare physician payment reform.

Did you miss the proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule webinar on July 26? Listen to the recording of our expert panel present and answer questions about the latest Medicare payment policies concerning individual pathology services and the Quality Payment Program next year.

State Pathology Societies and the CAP called on the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Palmetto to remove certain coverage guidance and summary of evidence policies to its coverage for special stains. The CAP has long opposed Palmetto’s policies on special stains and has collaborated with state pathology societies in Palmetto’s jurisdiction in an effort to make necessary changes supported by medical evidence.

On July 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule outlining cuts to pathologists, independent laboratories, and other specialties to offset increases to primary care physician services. The CAP has strongly opposed these cuts and is actively lobbying Congress to mitigate the decreases before they take effect.

Special Issue: The proposed 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule released on July 13 outlined deep cuts to pathologists, independent laboratories, and other specialties to offset increases to other physicians. The CAP has strongly opposed these cuts and is actively lobbying Congress to mitigate the decreases before they take effect.

The American Medical Association’s (AMA) CPT Editorial Panel released the new CAP developed CPT codes on June 30, The CAP worked with the AMA CPT Editorial Panel to establish new digital add-on codes.

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) is considering a name change for the profession from cytotechnologist to “cytologist.” Of greatest concern is that the name change will create confusion throughout the health care system.

A proposal to change the professional title of cytotechnologist to “cytologist” would occur under new guidelines currently under review of an allied health accreditation body. The CAP has strongly opposed the name change for several reasons but the proposal has moved forward despite the CAP’s objections.

With a set goal of a predictable, sustainable, and fair physician payment system, the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates declared Medicare physician payment reform an urgent advocacy and legislative priority for the AMA to address with a targeted campaign during its 2023 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Delegates representing the CAP at the meeting supported the measure as pathologists have fought against across-the-board Medicare cuts to all physicians for several years.

Following on our success for 2023, the CAP advocated for the inclusion of 30 new CPT digital pathology codes for pathologists to use in 2024.

Following 145 meetings with congressional offices on the CAP’s annual Hill Day, several legislators agreed to cosponsor legislation that pathologists specifically asked their representatives and senators to support.

As the COVID-19 public health emergency ended May 11, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its guidance to allow pathologists the ability to review digital slides and data remotely as long as they meet specific criteria.

On the heels of a successful 2023 Hill Day that saw nearly 100 CAP members meet with 145 congressional offices, pathologists have amassed tangible legislative momentum — but we need to build on that by continuing to contact legislators. 

Enforcement discretion to allow pathologists to review slides remotely without the need of a separate CLIA certificate for their remote locations will continue once the public health emergency for COVID-19 ends later in May. However, reporting of COVID-19 laboratory results to the federal government will no longer have the authority to require this data to be reported from laboratories.

For our 2023 Hill Day, CAP members met with their federal lawmakers and advocated to protect the value of pathology services.