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March 25, 2025
In this Issue:
CAP Hill Day Policy Agenda Announced
Four key policy issues will top the list of priorities that the CAP will raise when members go to Capitol Hill on April 29.
Mary Le, MD, FCAP, is Chair of the CAP Federal and State Affairs Committee. During this podcast episode, Dr. Le previewed what CAP members will discuss with representatives and senators next month. The CAP’s Hill Day is the final day of the House of Delegates and Pathologists Leadership Summit in April, where pathologists will go up to Capitol Hill to ask their members of Congress to support several health care issues important to the specialty.
MedPAC Says Medicare Physician Pay Should Account for Inflation
The Medicare Advisory Payment Commission (MedPAC) recommended connecting physician payment increases to the Medicare Economic Index minus 1 percentage point in 2026, according to a new report released this month.
The report also proposed enacting a March 2023 recommendation to establish safety-net add-on payments under the physician fee schedule for services delivered to low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
MedPAC's latest report comes as the CAP continues to press Congress to reverse the cuts that took effect on January 1. The CAP supports HR 879, the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act. This bipartisan bill will stop the latest round of payment cuts and provide physicians with a much-needed two percent payment increase. The CAP supports long-term reform to Medicare physician pay that includes annual updates for inflation.
CAP Advocates for Pathologists in Federal AI Action Plan
The CAP called on federal policymakers to ensure patient safety when drafting a new artificial intelligence (AI) action plan, while also noting that pathologists must lead appropriate clinical decision-making.
On March 15, the CAP submitted comments on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Request for Information on the Development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. The artificial intelligence action plan is designed to address some of the technology’s most vexing issues, such as energy constraints and potential threats to intellectual property.
The CAP comments—which were aligned with the CAP's communications to the Trump Transition Team and Congress about key priority issues— emphasized the need for appropriate regulation of AI. An action plan must support innovation and patient safety in laboratory AI applications while maintaining the critical leadership role of pathologists in clinical decision-making, the CAP said.
CDC Issues Dengue Virus Alert
Amid rising cases of dengue virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new Health Alert Network Health Update to provide additional information to health care providers, public health departments, and the public about the ongoing risk of infections and updates to testing recommendations in the United States.
With levels remaining high in some US territories and other countries, the CDC is urging health care providers and the public to continue to take steps to prevent, detect, diagnose, and respond to dengue, as described in a June 2024 health advisory. The CDC also issued a Travel Health Notice on global dengue.
Additional resources are available online.
Pathologists Assemble! Plan to Visit Congress in April
Congress has failed to stop payment cuts to pathologists, even as inflation continues to rise.
During the College of American Pathologists' annual House of Delegates and Pathologists Leadership Summit, members will let Congress know where they stand on Medicare payments and other issues affecting pathologists and patients.
Listen to A. Joe Saad, MD, CPE, FCAP, Chair of the CAP's Council on Government and Professional Affairs, share why members should attend the CAP's premier advocacy and leadership event in April.
Be sure to register for HOD/PLS happening April 26–29. Can't make this year's event? Learn more about opportunities to be involved in PathPAC online.
Get Ready to Back the PAC
It's time to Back the PAC!
Back the PAC is a fun and friendly effort to strengthen House of Delegates (HOD) support for PathPAC while educating delegates on its critical role in advancing the CAP's advocacy agenda and representing pathologists at the federal level.
During the event, the HOD will be divided into five regional teams with equal numbers of members based on the HOD roster as of March 1. The winning team(s) will be determined by:
- Highest overall team participation rate
- Most PathPAC funds raised
The competition begins on Thursday, March 27, and ends at 2 PM ET on Sunday, April 27. Winners will be announced before the House of Delegates meeting adjourns that day.
Members will receive an email with additional information on how to participate. Your participation strengthens our ability to advocate for our profession!