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- Congress proposes delay to Medicare lab cuts
Legislators have introduced a bill to fund health care and other government programs through 2026, which includes postponing Medicare reductions on clinical lab services.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 would delay cuts of up to 15% to clinical laboratory tests until January 1, 2027.
- New Medicare clinical lab rates would be based on private payer data collected between May 1 and July 31 of this year.
- This reprieve would allow the CAP and its allies to continue advocating for the Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act of 2025.
Other key provisions include:
- An extension of the Medicare incentive payments for physicians participating in an alternative payment model
- $53.4 million for cancer registries
Yes, but: The health package does not include legislation delaying the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) efficiency adjustment that started on January 1, and which reduces payments by 2.5%.
What's next: Congress still has time to act. Keep the momentum going by using our Action Alert Center to tell Congress to:
Trump Health Care Plan
On January 15, President Trump proposed a new plan to lower health care costs.
- The Great Healthcare Plan, which aims to lower the costs of drugs and insurance premiums, comes as Congress continues its work on bills to fully fund the government before February 1.