The CAP is asking its members to join in a Grassroots Week of Action starting September 13 through the 17 to urge their federal legislators to extend the 3.75% relief provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for the next two years. At the end of 2020, the CAP successfully lobbied Congress to pass legislation mitigating the impact of the Medicare cuts from 9% to about 2% to 3% in 2021, saving pathologists nearly $85 million in lost revenue. However, absent congressional action, cuts to pathology services will increase by 5% in 2022 under the proposed 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in addition to the 2.25% cut they received in 2021. In addition, the proposed 2022 conversion factor used for the fee schedule’s payment formula is $33.5848, representing a 3.75% decrease from the 2021 conversation factor. This 3.75% decrease to the conversion factor stems from Medicare policy to offset increases to other physician services such as any increases to evaluation and management services.

With extraordinary pressures on pathologists due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAP is seeking an extension of the relief Congress passed last year. As such, the CAP is asking its members to urge Congress to appropriate an additional $3 billion to extend the current relief and provide sufficient time to develop a longer-term solution.

Join us on September 13-17 for the CAP’s Grassroots Week of Action, by demanding that Congress extend the 3.75% relief provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for 2022 and 2023. The CAP urges its members to check out the CAP’s Twitter page at @CAPDCadvocacy every day at 12 PM ET to learn more and check emails from the CAP for how to act as a united voice.

Here are other ways you can be involved:

• Send an action alert to your members of Congress by checking out the CAP’s action center.
• Join PathNET, the CAP’s grassroots advocacy network, to learn about additional opportunities to get involved. Grassroots action can be sending an action alert to set up meetings with your members of Congress.
• Engage your members of Congress on social media by sending them a tweet. Sample tweet: [@ your member of Congress’s Twitter handle] Stop the upcoming #Medicare cuts and extend the relief provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for 2022 and 2023. This will give stability to pathologists and their patients at this critical time. @CAPDCAdvocacy
• Find a town hall or tele-town hall to attend here.
• Take and pass the course Grassroots Advocacy: How to Get Involved.

Learn more here.