ASCP to Congress: Repeal SGR, Fix Stark and Meaningful Use
Earlier this month, ASCP advocated that the powerful U.S. House of Representatives Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees, both of which have oversight over Medicare, repeal the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule’s flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). This advocacy was in response to a recent joint committee report recommending the repeal and reform of the SGR, the flawed formula used to calculate the annual update in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Read more

Supreme Court Considers Validity of Gene Patents
The United States Supreme Court heard arguments last month in Association for Molecular Biology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., et al, the landmark lawsuit challenging whether isolated human genes are patentable. The case questions Myriad Genetics’ right to patent BRCA1 and BRCA2, two genes that correlate to increased rates of breast and ovarian cancer. Read more

ASCP needs your help! ASCP, along with the College of American Pathologists (CAP), is asking your Illinois Senators to support pending legislation (SB 1630). The bill provides for direct billing for anatomical pathology services. Read more

Congress Reconsiders Workforce Legislation
Congress is once again considering legislation to address workforce training and employment as a means of putting Americans back to work. Workforce legislation has typically been addressed through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Originally enacted in 1998, WIA serves as the preeminent federal employment service and job training law. Read more