ASCP Releases Action Alert to Fix Medicare Payment Flaws

ASCP is working to enact bipartisan legislation to reverse the 2.8 percent cut in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and provide a 2 percent update. The 2 percent update is consistent with a Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recommendation that the PFS be updated by half the Medicare Economic Index, a barometer of medical practice inflation. The measure was introduced by Representatives Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and eight  other members of the U.S. House of Representatives to stabilize Medicare payment for physician services (See press release here). 

In response to the bill’s introduction, ASCP quickly released an Action Alert urging its entire membership to contact their elected representatives in Congress and ask them to support the legislation, known as the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act. ASCP has also sent a letter to Congressional leaders endorsing the measure and urging that it be included in the upcoming March 2025 government funding bill. 

Addressing flaws in the Medicare fee schedules impacting pathology and laboratory medicine is a top advocacy priority for ASCP. In addition to working to fix the PFS, which has seen payment rates decreased by 33 percent since 2001, largely due to the impact of inflation, ASCP is also working to address flaws in the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS). Similarly, the CFLS has suffered from years of cuts and the lack of an inflationary adjustment. ASCP’s recent action alert urges Congress to address flaws in the CLFS as well.  

As we are asking all ASCP members to take part in this advocacy campaign, please take a few minutes to send your members of Congress a request to address Medicare payment and please urge your colleagues to do the same.