Pushing for pathologists on multiple fronts during COVID-19 crisis

These are uncertain times. It seems, too often, the questions exceed the answers. Concerns for quality care and for patient, professional, and personal well-being are mounting daily.

The College of American Pathologists is and will continue to be very active on multiple fronts. I would like to briefly share some of our recent “wins” for the specialty and point out new resources to support you:

• We secured a remote work waiver from the CMS for pathologists. We achieved this change by mobilizing CAP members to directly lobby the government. Just this week, we garnered signatures from 37 members of Congress for a letter supporting our cause.
• Federal regulatory relief. So far, our advocacy results include the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporary suspension of almost all laboratory inspections. We’ve also gained temporary relief from portions of Medicare’s payment programs, including MIPS and PAMA, and lobbied Congress to ensure public and private insurance coverage for COVID-19 tests.
• The CAP’s Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 web page. Find regular updates, including guidance to manage testing, CAP accreditation, and proficiency testing (PT) along with access to COVID-related CAP advocacy information, and laboratory resources from the CMS and the FDA.
• We’ve also extended due dates on some PT programs, both domestic and international. Our priority is relieving regulatory burdens on you—to the best extent that allows you to continue delivering quality care.

Be sure to bookmark cap.org and stay informed through our weekly Advocacy Update. Please check for CAP advocacy emails as this situation is fluid.

I recognize these are challenging times. The CAP will do all it can to protect our members, the laboratories we direct, and our patients. Together we will meet this challenge just as we will those in the future.

Thank you for your dedication.

Sincerely,

Patrick Godbey, MD, FCAP
President, College of American Pathologists