Advocacy News

• Medicare expands coverage for genetic testing
• H5N1 cases decline
• Clinical lab community loses key voice
• Summer advocacy action plan
• Ask the CP Experts at CAP25

Our coverage Advocacy program successfully affected two new Medicare local coverage determinations (LCDs) for inherited aortic disease:

• Genetic Testing for Heritable Thoracic Aortic Disease (L39933, MolDx).
• Molecular Testing for Identification and Management of Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (L39935, MolDx). 

What's new: Medicare will now cover diagnostic tests used to evaluate and manage care for patients suspected of having Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (hATTR). 

• The LCDs take effect August 17 in 23 states. 

How it happened: CAP Advocacy collaborated with the Council on Scientific Affairs and the Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Committee to support coverage for these tests and to ensure that the policies use current evidence. 

Go deeper: Read about the CAP’s Medicare coverage advocacy.

Officials announced on July 7 that the CDC has shifted its reporting approach for the H5N1 bird flu due to its low public health risk.

Frequency change: Data on the number of people monitored and tested for bird flu will now be reported monthly instead of weekly.

• The CDC says bird flu updates will be merged with routine influenza data. 

US Department of Agriculture data on detections in animals will also no longer be posted on the CDC's website.

For a complete picture on influenza cases, go to the CDC FluView.

CAP Support: The first national proficiency testing program to help laboratories detect and accurately identify H5N1 will be delivered this fall.

CAP President Donald Karcher, MD, FCAP, recently sat down with The Dark Daily to discuss how the shutdown of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC) leaves the clinical laboratory community without a crucial voice.

The absence of this advisory body may lead to gaps in communication and slower response times in addressing [industry] challenges," Dr. Karcher said.

The CAP has joined the Association of Public Health Laboratories and other leading organizations in calling for the Department of Health and Human Services to reinstate CLIAC.

Summer is here, and advocacy is heating up! Here are five ways to jumpstart your advocacy efforts on behalf of pathologists.

Stay connected: Sign up for PathNET to stay informed.

Receive real-time updates: Get CAP Advocacy Grassroots Text Alerts right on your phone (no more than three per month).

Contact your representatives: Use the Action Center to reach out about issues impacting pathologists.

Support PathPAC: Contribute to PathPAC—the only federal political action committee representing pathologists.

Host a lab tour: Invite your member of Congress to visit your laboratory for a firsthand look at the essential work pathologists do.

In today’s rapidly evolving environment, it can be challenging to anticipate and adapt to technological innovations and test updates in clinical practice. At CAP25, our CP experts will answer your questions about responding to the difficult problems that occur in daily clinical pathology practices.

Title: What's Your Problem? Ask the CP Experts

• Topics for discussion include direction of laboratories, blood banks, and information systems; consultation with other health care providers on test use and interpretation; and strategies to improve pathologist service and productivity.
• Our expert panelists are Jonathan R. Genzen, MD, PhD, MBA, FCAP; Ronald Jackups Jr., MD, PhD, FCAP; Ericka Olgaard, DO, MBA, FCAP; and David Peaper, MD, PhD, D(ABMM), FCAP.
• 1.00 CME available.

Date & time: Saturday, September 13, 4:15–5:15 PM ET

Register: Register today for the CAP annual meeting to add this and other interactive, informative courses to your agenda!

Share: Spread the word on social media using #CAP25.