ASCP Urges Congressional Deficit Super Committee
Find Permanent Medicare Payment Fix

ASCP is calling on Congress to find a permanent fix to the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR), which could impose a 30-percent cut in physician reimbursement in 2012. Currently, the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is working to identify $1.5 trillion in budget cuts over the next 10 years. The Committee has until Nov. 23 to vote on its $1.5 trillion deficit reduction package. Read more

Urge Congress to Resist Imposing Cuts on Medicare Lab Services, Coinsurance on Beneficiaries
Events in Washington may threaten the future of pathology and laboratory medicine as well as patient care. The American Society for Clinical Pathology is urging its entire membership to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives about pending Medicare policy issues. Read more

Plaintiffs File Petition for Panel Rehearing in Myriad Gene Patenting Case

On. Aug. 25, counsel for the plaintiffs/appellees in the landmark lawsuit challenging patents on two human genes associated with hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer filed a petition for a Panel Rehearing in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. In July, a three-judge panel reversed a lower court ruling upholding the right of Myriad Genetics, to patent two “isolated” human genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, thus granting the company the exclusive right to perform diagnostic tests on the genes and preventing other researchers from even looking at the genes without first getting permission from Myriad. The decision permits the continuation of Myriad's monopoly on the BRCA genes, making it impossible for women to access alternate tests or get a comprehensive second opinion about their results. It also allows Myriad to continue charging a high price for its tests.
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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Patenting of Genes in Myriad Lawsuit
In a split decision, the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled late last month to partially reverse a lower court ruling challenging patents on two human genes associated with hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The ruling upholds the right of Myriad Genetics, to patent two “isolated” human genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, thus granting the company the exclusive right to perform diagnostic tests on the genes and preventing other researchers from even looking at the genes without first getting permission from Myriad.
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