Advocacy Update

• PathNET Alert: Block the LDT Rulemaking
• House Budget Bill Fails to Stop Medicare Cuts
• CAP Urges Collaboration on NIH Indirect Costs Policy
• CDC Issues New Health Advisory on Measles
• Register Now for the Spring HOD, Pathologists Leadership Summit
• Apply for PathPEF: Resident Advocacy Award by March 17
• Register for the CAP's Fourth LDT Webinar by March 20

Pathologists are using the CAP PathNET Action Center to tell Congress to support legislation that would prohibit funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rulemaking on oversight of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs).

Go to the PathNET Action Center now

The CAP strongly supports HR 1463, the Freedom for Laboratory Innovation and Testing Act, led by Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX). Read the CAP's letter calling for passage of the bill. The PathNET Action Center will assist CAP members with sending emails to their representatives in support of the legislation.

In a House legislative proposal to continue government funding to September 30, 2025, lawmakers failed to reverse Medicare payment rate cuts to pathologists and other physicians that took effect January 1 of this year. The CAP criticized the proposal released on March 8 for neglecting to stop the Medicare cuts, which threatens patients' access to pathology services.

Pathologists should go to the PathNET Action Center to urge Congress to fix the cuts.

"Over the last six years, Medicare payment rates for pathologists have decreased by more than 7% while costs for laboratory supplies, lab personnel, and other overhead expenses have increased over 17%," said CAP President Donald Karcher, MD, FCAP. "The long-term viability of pathology practices is at risk if our services for Medicare patients continue to be cut as inflation continues to rise. In the short term, Congress must provide temporary relief until a permanent fix can be enacted."

House lawmakers promised physicians in December 2024 that they would address the 2025 payment rate cuts in the March continuing resolution (CR).

The CAP is still pressing Congress for action. The CAP joined a coalition letter signed by 113 physician associations urging leadership in Congress to keep their promises.

American Medical Association President Bruce A. Scott, MD, said Congress is abandoning physicians and Medicare patients by not addressing the cut. "Congress has failed physicians," Dr. Scott said, "and Medicare patients will pay the price."

At the time of print, a vote is expected in the House on legislation. The House and Senate must act and the President must sign the legislation to avoid a government shutdown on Friday, March 14.

The CAP will continue monitoring and will update members as information becomes available.

The CAP and over 40 other leading medical organizations sent a joint letter to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), expressing concerns over the agency’s new policy imposing a 15% cap on indirect cost rates for all NIH grants.

The letter also shows appreciation for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) longstanding commitment to funding scientific research that advances medical breakthroughs. NIH has played a significant role in advancing medical research and life-saving treatments to improve patient care. The letter further expresses concerns about the implications of the policy that could halt scientific innovation.

On March 5, a US district court in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction blocking the NIH from implementing the February 7 "Supplemental Guidance" notice.

The CAP will continue updating members as information becomes available.

With the spring and summer travel season approaching, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new advisory for clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.

Currently, there are 228 confirmed measles cases in Texas (198) and New Mexico (10). Another case was reported in Maryland on March 9. While the risk for widespread outbreaks in the US remains low, the CDC emphasizes the critical role clinicians and public health officials play in preventing a potential spread, including sharing effective prevention strategies such as vaccination guidance for international travelers. The Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most effective tool for preventing measles. US residents should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially before international travel.

Read the latest health advisory online

Are you ready to connect with your colleagues, share insights, and advocate for the future of pathology? Register for the House of Delegates/Pathologists Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, April 26–29.

Expand your professional network, learn more about the latest scientific advancements, and play an active role in influencing policy.

Register today!

There's still time to apply for the PathPEF: Resident Advocacy Development Award.

Funded by PathPAC's Political Education Fund (PEF), the Resident Advocacy Development Award offers pathology residents a unique opportunity to attend the CAP's House of Delegates/Pathologists Leadership Summit and participate in Hill Day in Washington, DC.

The award is open to all pathology residents actively enrolled in an accredited US or pathology residency program. The application deadline is March 17.

If you are interested in supporting these efforts, learn more about PathPEF and contribute today!

Join the CAP on Thursday, March 20, at 1:00 PM ET for the fourth webinar in our laboratory-developed tests series. Gain a better understanding on the necessary steps to comply with the FDA's Stage 1 rule for quality system complaints.

This webinar will guide you through the new requirements, focusing on practical solutions tailored for laboratories. Presenters are Bobbi S. Pritt, MD, MSc, FCAP, Deeona R. Gaskin, JD, MPH, and Earle S. Collum, MD, FCAP.

Register online