August is one of the best times to protect your laboratory from regulatory overreach and advocate to stop payment cuts pathology services. Your representatives and senators in Congress will only act on these issues if they hear from you. While members of Congress have left Washington for August, they are at home meeting with constituents in your community. CAP members must take advantage of opportunities to connect and educate their legislators on pathology’s top legislative objectives.

When Congress returns to Washington, DC, in September, they will have a packed agenda with competing priorities. They need to hear from you now, so pathology issues are top of mind when they get back to Capitol Hill. Here is how you make your voice heard this month:

1. Go to the PathNET Action Center and act on these alerts:
   1. Stop Medicare cuts to clinical laboratory services: Urge Congress to enact the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) to stop cuts of up to 15% and reform Medicare’s pay system for clinical lab services.
   2. Stop Medicare cuts to pathologist’s services: It’s time for Congress to address constant cuts to Medicare payment and stabilize the system.
2. Advocate Locally.
   1. In-district meetings or virtual meetings. In-district meetings are some of the most effective ways to engage with Congressional offices. Recent studies of Congressional members have shown that these in-districts meetings rank equally in effectiveness as Capitol Hill visits. You can normally request a local meeting through your legislator’s website. If a virtual meeting is more convenient for your schedule, that works too! Virtual meetings are a powerful tool that advocates can utilize. Remember that each Congressional member’s website is set up differently and the process may vary. If you need assistance, please contact pathnet@cap.org and CAP staff can help!
   2. Sign up for emails and look for informal opportunities to engage with your legislators During August recess, legislators are active back home in their communities and attend a variety of events where they can connect with constituents, so check out their emails and websites for more information on events happening locally.
3. Host a laboratory tour. Conducting a laboratory tour for a member of Congress is extremely effective and educational. It is one of the most impactful ways to help CAP members develop relationships with their members of Congress. These tours help put a face on the profession and demonstrate pathology’s crucial role in the delivery of quality health care.
4. Advocate from the comfort of home (or anywhere!) Ensure you never miss an advocacy action alert by signing up for the CAP’s grassroots text alerts.

Remember that your member of Congress wants to hear from you, as a constituent and a physician, especially on health care policy. For any further questions, please email pathnet@cap.org.