Tell Congress that Quality Patient Care, Access to Local Laboratories at Risk
ASCP continues to urge the laboratory community to take a few minutes to help halt this potential danger to laboratory medicine and the patients we serve.
There is an urgent need for action! ASCP is seeking Congressional support for legislation to repeal the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed competitive bidding demonstration project for laboratory services. We need you to ask your Members of Congress to support H.R. 3453, the “Community Clinical Laboratory Fairness Act of 2007” and S. 2099, “the Preserving Access to Laboratory Services Act of 2007.” The bills, introduced by Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Senators Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Pat Roberts (R-KS), respectively, seek to repeal the competitive bidding demonstration project. Although both bills have garnered support from both sides of the aisle, it simply is not enough. CMS is moving forward. Having introduced the first demo site, San Diego, in early October and holding its first bidder’s conference in December, the voices of repeal advocates have not been heard. Congressional action is a necessity. The window of opportunity is narrowing:
- Bids due by February 15, 2008
- Winners selected on April 11, 2008
- Payments made under the demonstration by July 1, 2008
- In addition, the second demo site is expected to be announced soon
ASCP believes that implementation of this demonstration project would adversely impact clinical laboratories and patients; therefore, ASCP is urging its entire membership to use the ASCP eAdvocacy Center to take a stand and repeal the demonstration project.
ASCP’s Concerns with Competitive Bidding
ASCP is concerned about this demonstration project for many reasons. While the demo may appear to affect only those in the demonstration site areas, the data gleaned from this demonstration project could be applied nationally, forcing smaller laboratories to close, denying patients accessible laboratory services, and ultimately jeopardizing the quality of laboratory services to patients. CMS has not demonstrated an ability to maintain public health and patient safety standards if it were to implement this project. Patient safety and care should serve as the basis for all decision making in the health care arena, not perceived cost savings. There remain a slew of unanswered questions surrounding the demonstration project and a great deal of uncertainty about its implications and long range impact. Do we really want to promote unknowns when it comes to patient care? ASCP’s concerns over the proposed demonstration project are detailed in the Society’s Competitive Bidding Fact Sheet (PDF).
ASCP has long opposed the implementation of competitive bidding for laboratory services. The Society’s public policy statement, approved in 1994, reflects the same concerns that resonate today.
Background
In 2003, Congress directed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to conduct a demonstration project on the competitive acquisition of laboratory services reimbursable under the Medicare Part B clinical laboratory fee schedule. This Congressional mandate came as a result of Section 302(b) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). The purpose of the demonstration is to determine whether competitive bidding can be used to provide quality Part B clinical laboratory services at a price below current Medicare reimbursement rates.
What Can You Do?
ASCP is urging all members of the pathology and laboratory community to use the ASCP eAdvocacy Center to write their Members of Congress and urge them to support H. R. 3453 and S. 2099 to repeal CMS’ competitive bidding demonstration project. ASCP encourages everyone to take action and support these crucial pieces of legislation. It only takes a few minutes to help repeal the demonstration project! Act now!
ASCP’s Washington staff has drafted a model letter you can send. We encourage you to personalize your letter by noting the impact competitive bidding could have or your career, the laboratory community and the patients you serve. This will significantly increase the effectiveness of your message to Congress.