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- Bipartisan LCD reform gains momentum. Your voice matters
Medicare local coverage determinations (LCD) shape whether patients can access diagnostic tests—including new and innovative technologies—and flawed processes can delay or deny care.
- Pathologists have long raised concerns about inconsistent coverage decisions, limited transparency, and insufficient physician input in the LCD process.
The latest: Bipartisan legislation, the Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act (HR 8500), is gaining traction on Capitol Hill.
- The bill would strengthen transparency, restore appropriate stakeholder input, and help ensure coverage policies are developed and finalized in a timely, evidence-based way.
- CAP members put LCD reform on lawmakers’ radar during recent Hill Day meetings, ensuring the issue has strong visibility on Capitol Hill.
What’s next: With the bill at an early stage, broad engagement from CAP members across the country is critical now to build support and encourage additional cosponsors.
The CAP view: LCD reforms are essential to protecting patient access to medically necessary diagnostic testing—including new and emerging tests—and preventing avoidable delays or denials, while preserving physicians’ clinical judgment.
Take action: CAP members can find and message their legislators, urging them to support HR 8500 and help improve Medicare coverage policy-making for patients and pathologists.