- Home
- Advocacy
- Latest News and Practice Data
- CAP Asks HELP Committee to Standardize Laboratory Reporting in Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act
The CAP provided its input to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee leadership on reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Specifically, the CAP asked the HELP Committee to establish minimum national data reporting requirements for which clinical laboratories would be required to report in the state they are located, among other standardizing and funding requests. The CAP has supported improvements to national testing and pandemic response strategy.
In the March 29 letter to HELP Committee leadership, the CAP outlined how COVID-19 highlighted critical areas of concern that must be addressed to better prepare for future pandemics and offered recommendations for consideration during the pandemic and preparedness act’s reauthorization. Those policies include:
- Standardization of electronic laboratory reporting;
- Authorization of funding to enhance lab information systems;
- Strengthen the supply chain;
- Ensure a mechanism for adequate coverage and reimbursement of tests during a public health emergency; and
- Authorize funding to strengthen the laboratory workforce.
The CAP will continue to work with the Committee on this legislation.