Previous Advocacy Updates

President Joe Biden’s 2021 budget recommendation to Congress released on April 9 called for an additional $8.7 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a 23% boost to the Department of Health and Human Services.

In anticipation of pending congressional action to extend the 2% sequester reduction suspension for Medicare claims, the CMS instructed Medicare Administrative Contractors to hold all claims for a short period without affecting providers’ cash flow.

On March 25, the Senate passed CAP-supported legislation to prevent a 2% cut from hitting physician Medicare payments until the end of 2021.

The House passed legislation to prevent a 2% cut from hitting physician Medicare payments beginning April 1. The CAP supported the bipartisan bill that passed with a 246-175 vote on March 19. The bill, HR 1868, will now go to the Senate for consideration. The CAP will urge senators to approve the bill.

The CAP supports bipartisan efforts in the House and Senate to stop Medicare Sequester cuts that will take effect April 1. The CAP sent a letter to congressional leaders urging Congress to prevent additional financial burdens on pathologists during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest congressional COVID-19 relief package advanced with the Senate voting 50-49 on March 6 after several hours of debate and amendments. Since the legislation changed from what had been previously approved by the House, the bill will be taken up again in the House where it is expected to pass over the next few days. The CAP had advocated for several health care provisions related to pathology and ensuring access to testing for patients

On February 27, the House approved the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan legislative package, which includes increased vaccine distribution and provisions to support COVID-19 testing.

As the House works on its version of a legislative package to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAP urged Senate leaders to support testing services and laboratory frontline providers as they craft their own pandemic relief bill.

The CAP urged a key health care committee in the House to increase testing resources and expand laboratory capacity for COVID-19 tests in its next pandemic relief package.

The House and Senate agreed to a budget plan on February 5 that is needed to enact a proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 response and relief package.

The CAP outlined its priorities to fight the COVID-19 pandemic following the release of the White House’s National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness.

On January 21, President Joe Biden signed several executive orders to create a Pandemic Testing Board and address other issues concerning COVID-19 testing.

During a meeting with officials from the CMS, the CAP called on the agency to cease implementing of its policy on COVID-19 test result turnaround time that became effective on January 1.

The CAP condemned the violence that took place in Washington, DC, as a mob rioted the US Capitol.

In year-end legislation that mitigated future Medicare payment cuts to pathologists, which passed by the House and Senate on December 21, the Congress provided additional monies for public health, physician and other health care provider support, and financial and economic relief. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on December 27.

Following a sustained lobbying campaign against Medicare payment cuts to pathologists in 2021 by the CAP, Congress will mitigate the cut by adding $3 billion to next year’s Medicare fee schedule and delaying implementation of a new evaluation and management add-on code for three years.

With Congress maneuvering to complete its year-end business before the holidays, the CAP lobbied congressional lawmakers and staff to stop -9% Medicare cuts to pathologists in 2021.

President-elect Joe Biden furthered solidified his team to fight the national COVID-19 pandemic by nominating California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The President-elect also nominated leading infectious-disease specialist Rochelle Walensky, MD, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CAP will continue to fight the sharp Medicare cuts to Pathologists finalized in 2021 Fee Schedule, and appreciates that the CMS did succeed in protecting pathology reporting measures.

The American Medical Association House of Delegates directed the AMA to advocate for enhanced payments to recognize work performed by physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic at the November 2020 Special Meeting.