With House lawmakers debating a budget reconciliation legislative package, the CAP engaged with House leadership to support expanding access to health care insurance coverage, improving the pandemic response, and addressing health inequities. In a September 17 letter to House leaders, the CAP also asked the elected officials to stop upcoming cuts to pathologists’ Medicare payments and address physician shortages throughout the United States.

As the pandemic revealed weaknesses in the US health care system, Congress has sought to address these shortcomings through the budget reconciliation package. In a letter to House leadership, the CAP stated its support for a pluralistic system that increases access to care for patients and stabilizes the health care system.

The CAP engaged on several provisions currently in House legislation that would improve the lives of Americans across the country by expanding access to health care coverage and improving access to high-quality care. The CAP further recommended the addition of other provisions that would strengthen the legislation.

The CAP’s positions on access to health care coverage is closely aligned to those of the American Medical Association (AMA) and other private sector groups, such as the American Hospital Association. This includes supporting the expansion of Medicaid as a means to cover more uninsured Americans to address health disparities throughout the United States. Access to preventative care, cancer and other screening services, as well as treatment for chronic illnesses and mental health disorders, are essential for communities of color and underserved populations.

At the same time, the CAP, along with the AMA and other physician organizations, are advocating for Medicaid payment rates be raised to 100% parity with Medicare rates to maintain quality of care to Medicaid beneficiaries.

Strengthening Public Health and Pandemic Response

The CAP also stated its support for other sections of the budget reconciliation package addressing the US public health system and pandemic response strategies. This included $7 billion to support health infrastructure activities to address workforce capacity, health information technology, and disease surveillance. The CAP also supports another $10 billion in grants to increase capacity and update medical facilities and hospitals.

As the testing supply chain has been fragile throughout the pandemic, the CAP applauded the inclusion of $10 billion to support critical manufacturing supply chain resilience. The funding is intended to mitigate future supply chain shortages so health care professionals, such as pathologists and laboratory personnel, can do their jobs properly.

Mitigating Medicare Cuts

The CAP further argued that Congress must mitigate pending Medicare cuts to pathologists. “Without continued relief, pathologists face an additional payment cut of 5% in 2022, on top of the 2.25% cut they received in 2021,” the CAP said. “These cuts are in addition to other economic shifts adversely affecting pathology practices.”

Earlier in the week, pathologists began contacting their representatives and senators in Congress to urge them to stop the cuts. Hundreds of pathologists used the CAP’s PathNET Action Center to quickly send a message to Congress in support of addressing the cuts before 2022.