ePolicy News August 2023

CMS Unveils 2024 Physician Fee Schedule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s 2024 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, if approved, could mean overall reimbursement for pathologists and independent laboratory services would decrease 2 percent and 1 percent, respectfully, compared to 2023 payment rates. ASCP urges members to contact their congressional leaders to add a permanent inflationary adjustment to the PFS. Read more.

FDA Laboratory Developed Test Rule Under Review
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rule for laboratory developed tests has been sent to the federal Office for Budget Management for approval. ASCP is working to ensure that when approved, it will not unreasonably interfere with diagnostic innovation by clinical laboratories and that it ensures patient access to quality laboratory services. Read more.

House Leaders Support PEPFAR Reauthorization
Seventy-five Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House have expressed strong support for reauthorizing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Since its inception, ASCP has been a strong partner of PEPFAR, helping to work toward a goal to eradicate HIV/AIDS by 2030. Read more.

Could Biden’s New Student Loan Plan SAVE You Money?
After the Supreme Court nixed President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, the Administration quickly unveiled a new initiative—Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), which could cut borrower loan payments in half. Read more.

Promoting the Profession by Aligning Educational Program Titles to the MLS Career
Laboratory administrators, C-suite executives, educators, and the laboratory community are encouraged to register for a 90-minute webinar on Sept. 13, beginning at 12 p.m. ET, to discuss a standardized nomenclature for programs teaching medical laboratory science at the bachelor’s degree level. The webinar will describe the current landscape of educational programs and degree titles and present the case for alignment to use of the medical laboratory science nomenclature.  Presented by ASCP, the ASCP Board of Certification, and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, the webinar will be moderated by Susan Harrington, PhD, D(ABMM), MASCP, MLS(ASCP)CM, Chair of the ASCP Workforce Steering Committee. Read more.