Advocacy News

• Positive results from Hill Day 2026
• Advocacy win for Arizona pathologists
• Physician groups urge stronger enforcement of No Surprises Act protections
• Data reporting period now open for laboratories

We’re starting to see the effects of pathologists meeting with their members of Congress in Washington, DC, on April 28. 

Momentum: One example comes from Richa Jain, MD, MBBS, FCAP. She reported that during a meeting with Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s office, legislative staff told the Tennessee delegation of pathologists that the senator decided to sign on as a co-sponsor of the RESULTS Act.

• This wasn’t the first time Dr. Jain met with Sen. Blackburn’s staff. She spoke with them about the RESULTS Act last fall during the CAP’s Virtual Fly-in.
• The RESULTS Act would stop Medicare cuts of up to 15% to clinical lab tests in 2027. The bill would also institute long-term reforms needed to improve how clinical lab fees are calculated. 

By the numbers: On Hill Day, there were 168 in-person meetings, plus five virtual, with additional meetings pending.

• 126 pathologists participated, with eight CAP staff members supporting them on the Hill.

The impact: These conversations help build relationships, shape policy discussions, and move pathology’s priorities forward in a challenging legislative environment.

What's next: The CAP will continue following up with congressional offices to strengthen support and advance key issues, including payment reform, workforce, and regulatory improvements. You can send your Action Alert on the RESULTS Act today. 

On April 13, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed Senate Bill 1123 into law, ensuring that only licensed physicians trained in forensic pathology can oversee forensic autopsies performed by medical students, residents, and fellows.

The impact: The law strengthens physician supervision of forensic autopsies in Arizona, supporting the quality and reliability of forensic investigations.

• The CAP collaborated with the Arizona Society of Pathologists (ASP), the Arizona Medical Association, and the National Association of Medical Examiners to push for this standard.
• The CAP and our partners successfully amended House Bill 2065 in 2025. While the bill did not advance last year, it was reintroduced this year with CAP and ASP’s amendment.

What's next: The CAP will continue advocating for consistent physician supervision standards in forensic pathology.

On April 27, the CAP joined the American Medical Association and dozens of national specialty and state medical societies in a letter urging the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to strengthen enforcement of the No Surprises Act (NSA).

The concern: Physician groups report that some health plans are exploiting gaps in the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process, shifting costs to patients and destabilizing physician practices.

What’s happening:

• Some plans increase patient cost sharing even after an IDR decision in the physician’s favor.
• Plans are reopening settled IDR cases and delaying payment.
• IDR awards are being paid late, underpaid, or unpaid.
• Plans do not disclose how qualified payment amounts are calculated.

The impact: These practices undermine the NSA’s intent to protect patients from surprise bills and ensure fair physician payment. Persistent payment delays and shortfalls threaten independent practices and patient access to care.

What we’re asking: The letter calls on federal agencies to increase enforcement, improve transparency across the IDR process, and hold health plans accountable for following the law as intended.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) data collection system, marking the start of the reporting period for applicable laboratories.

What to know:

• The system is now live for labs to submit private payor rate data.
• The reporting window runs through July 31.
• Reporting requirements reflect updated policies under recent federal law.

The impact: Accurate data submission is critical to ensuring Medicare payment rates better reflect the real-world cost of laboratory services.

What's next: Laboratories should confirm applicability, complete registration, and begin preparing and submitting required data.

Go deeper: Access CMS resources, including the webinar recording (passcode: =8Jwys2*), slides, and FAQs, and view the CAP's two-page resource for additional guidance.