- Home
- Advocacy
- Latest News and Practice Data
- CAP Asks CMS to Examine Remote Work Practices After Emergency Declaration Ends
The CAP recently asked the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to evaluate remote sign-out practices for pathologists after the public health emergency ends.
At a November 9 meeting of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Committee (CLIAC), which recommends changes to CLIA regulations, the CAP sought to address the evolution of laboratory practice and technology while also cautioning the CMS from making changes that result in diminished quality and oversight. The CAP testified before CLIAC regarding the CMS continuing with remote work sign-out of cases after the public health emergency declaration is rescinded but study these practices for unintended consequences. The CAP also recommended updates to proficiency testing (PT) requirements to address the total testing process.
Joe Saad, MD, FCAP, Vice-Chair of the CAP Council on Government and Professional Affairs, provided testimony to CLIAC. In his testimony, Dr. Saad outlined how the CAP supports the continuation of the remote sign-out waiver for the duration of the public health emergency declaration. However, the CAP recommended CLIAC examine potential unintended consequences that could cause patient safety and testing quality issues.
Dr. Saad also stated that laboratories should perform PT by observing the same process that they do for patient samples, including moving samples among multiple sites to complete all aspects of testing. Doing so should not constitute intent to commit proficiency testing referral.
The CAP will work closely with the CMS to ensure appropriate regulations and policies as clinical laboratory testing evolves.