Advocacy News

• Government shutdown ends with new deal
• Pathologists strategize on digital pathology initiatives
• CAP provides testimony to prevent diagnostic test delays
• MedPAC calls for stronger Medicare physician payments
• OIG: Genetic tests drive rise in Medicare Part B lab spending

Lawmakers have reached a deal after a partial government shutdown began over the weekend. 

The Senate passed a five-bill package, called the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, by a 71–29 vote on Friday. The House voted earlier today to pass the bill 217–214. 

• The bill will be sent to President Trump for his signature, ending the partial government shutdown that began on January 31.
• The package delays the 2026 Medicare cuts to lab tests of up to 15% until 2027.
  • The bill also includes additional key health care provisions, including funding for cancer research. 

The CAP supports the delay as it gives Congress time to enact long-term reform. The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act would ensure that pathologists are fairly compensated and would also safeguard patients’ access to critical tests.

Pathologists serving on two key CAP councils held a strategy session over the weekend to discuss several initiatives ranging from digital pathology and AI to leveraging data to further our advocacy objectives.

• The Council on Government and Professional Affairs (CGPA) and Council on Informatics and Pathology Innovation (CIPI) received updates on the latest trends concerning digital pathology and AI.
• Council members then discussed current CAP initiatives and future areas of collaboration to address the challenges pathologists face when adopting new technology. 

One takeaway: More pathologists and laboratories need to report digital pathology add-on codes. 

• These important tracking codes are intended to capture and report additional clinical staff work and service requirements associated with digitizing glass slides for primary diagnosis.
• Resistance from administrators has hindered the use of these codes. However, pathologists must show that the technology is integrated and used for primary diagnosis to gain future recognition by insurers.
• Billing data can also support the development of studies and literature supporting the efficacy of the services.

Pathologists in Virginia are speaking up to ensure patients receive lab results in a timely manner.

Virginia lawmakers recently introduced legislation to protect patients from delays in receiving critical laboratory and pathology results, a problem clinicians say can interfere with timely diagnosis and treatment.

What they're saying: During a hearing on the bill, Theresa Emory, MD, FCAP, chair of our Payment Policy Subcommittee, highlighted how referral limitations can disrupt patient care, particularly when time-sensitive diagnoses are involved. 

Go deeper: Watch the hearing online.

Medicare's advisory panel is urging Congress to strengthen physician payments—backing what we've told lawmakers for years.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) signaled during its January meeting that current physician payment updates are not keeping pace with rising practice costs, threatening patient access to care.

The impact: If Congress acts on MedPAC's recommendations, physicians could see more sustainable Medicare reimbursement and patients could see better access.

• Practices facing higher staffing, supply, and compliance costs would get relief from chronic payment stagnation.
• More stable Medicare payments could help maintain access, especially in rural and underserved communities.

The big picture: MedPAC's position adds independent, data-driven support to ongoing physician advocacy for long-term Medicare payment reform.

• Lawmakers continue to have official backing to modernize the payment system and move beyond short-term fixes.

Medicare Part B spending on lab tests climbed in 2024, fueled by rapid growth in genetic testing, according to a new HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.

The OIG's report, Total Medicare Part B Spending on Lab Tests Rose in 2024, Driven by Increased Spending on Genetic Tests (OEI-09-25-00330), found that Medicare Part B spent $8.4 billion on lab tests in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023.

The impact: Genetic tests accounted for 43% of all Part B lab test spending in 2024, up from 18% in 2018.

• Spending increased even as the number of Medicare enrollees receiving lab tests continued to decline.

This shift may have implications for test utilization, payment policy, and future Medicare reforms affecting clinical laboratories.

Go deeper: Read the OIG’s full report.