ePolicy News October 2023

FDA Releases Laboratory Developed Test Oversight Proposed Rule
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule in late September for the purposes of providing oversight of laboratory developed tests (LDTs). The implications of the rule are staggering. Read more.

Build Skills to Advocate for the Needs of Your Laboratory at ASCP 2023!
In the current healthcare environment, where resources are sparse, it is more important than ever for laboratory leaders to justify to C-suite executives why they need more staffing or funding for laboratory equipment. To support laboratory administrators’ needs, ASCP’s new Negotiation and Advocacy Toolbox will be the focus of an education session and a roundtable discussion at the ASCP 2023 Annual Meeting. Read more.

CAAHEP Updates Cytologist Nomenclature and Educational Standards
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is adopting the term “cytologist” to refer to the professionals and “cytology” to denote their field of practice. Read more.

Low Hanging Fruit #1: Easy Things You Can Do to Advocate for the Laboratory
Laboratories today face many financial challenges, especially with decreasing payment rates from Medicare and private payers, and you can help! Go to the StopLabCuts Action Center and urge your legislators in Washington, DC, to support the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act, which would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to revamp how it pays for laboratory services. Read more.

Low Hanging Fruit #2: More Easy Things You Can Do to Advocate for the Laboratory
Another financial issue affecting pathology and laboratory medicine is the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which reimburses pathologists and physicians for their work and pays for related technical services performed by laboratory professionals and other non-physicians. It is not adjusted annually for inflation. Please visit ASCP’s eAdvocacy platform and ask congressional leaders to approve the “Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act,” which would address this inflationary impact. Read more.

ASCP Choosing Wisely Champions Recognized for Driving Innovation in Health Care
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented staffing and fiscal challenges. Dr. Grace Mahowald, medical director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Core Laboratory, seized the moment to launch a test utilization initiative involving two common clinical laboratory workflows: laboratory add on requests and complete blood count/differentials, both requiring significant staff time with often minimal clinical benefit. Familiar with the overuse of these tests, she sought to bridge the gap in understanding. She is one of four ASCP Choosing Wisely Champions who will present their findings virtually on October 10, as part of the ASCP 2023 Annual Meeting Path to Long Beach. Read more.

HHS Makes Progress Toward a National RBC Patient Data Exchange
ASCP is pleased to see that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has begun initial steps to create a National Red Blood Cell Antibody Patient Data Exchange. ASCP has worked collaboratively with the American Society of Hematology, the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies, and other stakeholders, to advocate for the creation of such a database that will improve patient care. Read more.

To learn more about ePolicy News and access past newsletters and articles, click here.

For more information regarding ASCP's advocacy initiatives and policy positions, please contact ASCP's Center for Public Policy at (202) 408-1110.