With Senate lawmakers continuing to debate a budget reconciliation package, the CAP engaged with Senate leadership to expand access to health care insurance coverage, improve the pandemic response with a national testing strategy, and address health inequities. In a September 30 letter to Senate leaders, the CAP asked lawmakers to stop upcoming cuts to pathologists’ Medicare payments and address physician shortages throughout the United States.

As COVID-19 highlighted weaknesses in the health care system, Congress is looking to address some of the inadequacies through the budget reconciliation package. In the letter to Senate leadership, the CAP outlined how it “supports continued efforts to improve access to meaningful health insurance coverage and lower health care costs for patients.” The CAP’s position on increasing access to health care coverage is closely aligned to those of the American Medical Association (AMA). The CAP also stated its support for a pluralistic system that increases access to care for all patients. This includes supporting the expansion of Medicaid to cover more uninsured Americans to address health disparities throughout the United States.

Additionally, the CAP asked Senate leadership to consider a national COVID-19 testing strategy. This included an additional $5 billion for renovation, expansion, and modernization of state and local public health laboratory infrastructure; renovating, expanding, and modernizing laboratories of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CAP also supports another $8 billion to prepare for, and respond to, public health emergencies, including shoring up the Strategic National Stockpile, strengthening our supply chains, supporting domestic and global manufacturing of vaccines, bolstering biosecurity, and investing in therapeutics, among other activities.

The CAP will continue to track this package carefully and provide timely updates.