- Home
- Advocacy
- Latest News and Practice Data
- CAP Provides Feedback on 21st Century Cures Act 2.0 Legislation
Building on the 21st Century Cures Act that became law in 2016, the CAP has engaged with House lawmakers drafting the second version of legislation that aims to advance medical research and foster a new era of medical innovation. On August 27, the CAP provided its initial feedback on a legislative discussion draft that touched on several areas that would impact pathology and laboratory medicine. This includes opposing a provision that would allow pharmacists to interpret testing results.
Reps. Diane DeGette (D-CO) and Fred Upton (R-MI) released their “Cures 2.0” legislative draft earlier this summer and asked organizations like the CAP for their feedback. The CAP is supportive of many of the provisions in the Cures 2.0 discussion draft, including improvements to the vaccine and immunization programs, increasing diversity in clinical trials, developing antimicrobial innovations, and providing funding for independent research institutions, public laboratories, and universities.
In the CAP’s August 27 comment letter, the CAP said given the current pandemic the United States needs a compressive national testing strategy that includes improving a fragile supply chain for testing, providing flexibility with CLIA restrictions during emergency health situations, developing appropriate pricing and coverage for diagnostic testing, as well as funding to support testing services and laboratory frontline providers.
CAP Opposes Allowing Pharmacists Interpreting Test Results
The CAP also highlighted some concerns with the Cures 2.0 discussion draft. Specifically, the CAP opposed allowing genomic precision medicine consultations by clinical pharmacists and requested that provision to be reconsidered. Although clinical pharmacists play a very important role in providing care to patients, the CAP firmly believes that the interpretation of laboratory tests constitutes the practice of medicine, for which pharmacists should not be licensed.
The CAP will continue to track the Cures 2.0 legislation and provide timely updates.