ePolicy News August 2020

September 10, 2020

Find a list of the stories in the August 2020 edition of ePolicy News below.

Laboratory Supply Shortages Focus of ASCP, AMA Meeting with HHS
ASCP continues to urge federal leaders to help clinical laboratories secure the supplies needed to provide COVID-19 testing and other tests. Urging federal officials to address testing supply shortages has been central to ASCP’s advocacy efforts, as well as calling for a national testing strategy.

Read more.

CMS E/M Proposal a Major Threat to Pathology, Laboratory Reimbursement for 2021
As clinical laboratories across the nation struggle to meet patient demand for COVID-19 testing and other laboratory and pathology services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule that proposes significant cuts in payments for pathologists and clinical laboratories.

Negotiations on Fifth Coronavirus Relief Bill Continue
Despite what appears like little to show for all the negotiations on a fifth coronavirus relief package, recent negotiations seem to be paving the way for an agreement.

ASCP Seeks Lab Professionals for Workforce Research Study
Laboratory professionals are sought to participate in an ASCP research study that would identify existing strategies to recruit and retain laboratory professionals, identify barriers as well as ways to strengthen the pipeline and then create a plan for action.

Science-based Response to COVID-19 Urged
In a joint letter to the White House, ASCP and other organizations are imploring the federal government to adopt a science- and data-driven response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HHS Extends Public Health Emergency
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has responded to a letter from ASCP and nearly 100 other groups by extending the public health emergency, which gives federal and state officials more authority and flexibility to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 Laboratory Supplies Added to Federal Hoarding Prohibitions
The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services added key laboratory supplies, such as reagents, pipettes, and test kits to the Federal Hoarding Prevention Prohibition, which was extended in a July 27 Federal Register Notice.

ASCP Joins AMA on Surprise Billing Letter
ASCP agrees with the urgent need to hold patients harmless in billing disputes between providers and insurers, but is concerned that legislation being considered by Congress unfairly favors insurers in billing disputes, the Society wrote in a joint letter with the American Medical Association to Congress.

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

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