With significant budget cuts being proposed to many of the federal programs essential to healthcare workforce development, immigration options are often looked to as a potential staffing solution. But given the current climate related to immigration policy it is unclear how well things will fare in this area.  

While the Trump Administration has prioritized addressing illegal immigration, it has generally spoken favorably about the need for skilled workers to come to the United States. That said, the administration’s messaging has not been consistent with regard to legal immigration. For example, Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently cancelled scores of visas for foreign students on F-1 and J-1 visas nonimmigrant visas. According to the Associated Press, “more than 1,200 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March.”  These visa cancellations have raised concern among employers that rely on a pipeline of foreign students (many of whom become employed in information technology, engineering, and healthcare) for skilled labor needs. In a more recent development, however, the Administration has reported reversed course on these visa cancelations.  

As a large portion of U.S. pathology residents are not U.S. citizens, ASCP has reached out to the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates, which evaluates all international medical graduates and deems them eligible for U.S. residency programs, to determine if any international medical graduates or physicians with H-1B non-immigrant status have been impacted. So far, their understanding is that none have had their visas cancelled. 

That said, there are some bright spots to report.  

First, several bills have been introduced in Congress to address the Conrad 30 program, which provides a waiver of the two-year home residency requirement to which international medical graduates are subject. The program allows states to provide approximately 30 waivers per year of the two-year home residency requirement, provided they practice medicine in a rural or underserved area. ASCP is a supporter of this program. 

Representative Michale Lawler (R-NY) introduced the Doctors in our Borders Act, HR1201, on February 11. In addition, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative David G. Valadao (R-CA) introduced on February 25 the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act, S 709/HR 1585, in their respective chambers of Congress. All three of these bills would reauthorize and expand the number of waivers the Conrad 30 program can provide. 

In the past, it has been challenging for pathologists to secure waivers from the Conrad 30 program, because of the limited number of waivers available and the preference provided to primary care providers. But recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one of several federal agencies offering waivers, expanded its program so that there is no longer a numerical cap on the number of waivers it will provide. According to one immigration expert ASCP consulted, this should lessen demand on state Conrad 30 requests enabling more specialists, like pathologists, to secure J-1 waivers so they can work in the U.S. states. As a result, ASCP is hopeful that the Conrad 30 program, especially if expanded as proposed under the recently introduced legislation, will be increasingly relevant to addressing the shortages of pathologists. 

The bipartisan legislation extends the program for three years and would increase current state allocations from 30 to 35 physicians per year. It would also provide flexibility to expand the number of waivers in states where demand exceeds that limit.  

More than three dozen healthcare associations and organizations penned a letter calling on House and Senate leaders for action on a bill bolstering foreign-born physician recruitment to underserved regions. 

The letters—which include the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges as signatories—speak to the Conrad 30 Waiver Program and its role in alleviating the nation’s worsening clinical workforce shortage. 

It allows foreign students who come to the U.S. for medical training to immediately begin practicing in the U.S. by forgoing visa requirements that would force them to return to their home country for at least two years. In exchange, program participants are required to work full-time for at least three years in a medically underserved community. 

ASCP's Laboratory Stewardship Champions (formerly Choosing Wisely Champions) program aims to highlight successful initiatives in pathology and laboratory medicine led by pathologists, laboratory professionals, clinicians, and clinical teams. These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to the ASCP’s Best Practice Recommendations for Effective Test Utilization. 

The Laboratory Stewardship Champions program recognizes dedication to inspiring others and implementing best practices for effective test utilization that showcase the importance of being patient-centric and drive change and innovation in healthcare. 

To nominate an organization, team, or individual (including yourself) as an ASCP 2025 Laboratory Stewardship Champion, the following selection criteria should be considered: 

• Promoting the application of Effective Test Utilization principles in practice   

• Supporting the development of ASCP Effective Test Utilization recommendations 

• Educating ASCP members on Effective Test Utilization concepts and related recommendations   

• Assessing and validating the effectiveness of recommendations   

• Leading local initiatives focused on Effective Test Utilization   

• Serving as a spokesperson for the Society on related campaigns   

Nominations should include a concise description (300 words maximum) of how Effective Test Utilization recommendations in pathology and laboratory medicine have been applied, with specific evidence (e.g., performance improvement data) illustrating their impact. Submissions must include relevant supporting data, metrics, articles, outcomes, etc. to be considered. To learn more, visit the Laboratory Stewardship Champions webpage. 

The deadline for nominations is May 16, 2025. To submit a nomination or for questions about nominations or the Laboratory Stewardship Champions program, please email this nomination form to Liz Jackson, MPH, Senior Director, Quality Initiatives & Health Policy, ASCP Institute for Science, Technology, and Policy, at liz.jackson@ascp.org. 

Ali Brown, MD, FASCP, Chief Medical Officer for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), joined hosts Montel Williams and Olga Villaverde of The Balancing Act to spotlight critical members of the patient care team: pathologists and laboratory professionals. 

The 12-minute segment debuted on April 28, on the Lifetime Network. During the discussion, Dr. Brown emphasized the critical role that pathologists play in diagnosing and managing patient health. She also addressed the growing shortage in the laboratory workforce and the urgent need to attract new talent to the field. 

The segment also touched on key themes including advocacy for the profession, the importance of high-quality care, and efforts to raise public awareness of the laboratory’s contribution to healthcare. Dr. Brown called for continued support and recognition of pathologists and laboratory professionals, especially in light of their behind-the-scenes impact on every stage of patient care. 

“The lab is the heart of healthcare,” Dr. Brown said. “It’s time more people knew that.” View the full segment here. 

ASCP is excited to announce its new searchable online catalog of Effective Test Utilization (ETU) (formerly Choosing Wisely) recommendations. This new catalog will streamline functionality and usability for laboratory professionals and others looking for a quick way to find actionable utilization recommendations. Offering a more user-friendly experience, this catalog will save time, eliminating manual searches of our ETU recommendations.  

In addition to the improved functionality, we’ve updated the terminology on the website to reflect the transition from Choosing Wisely to ASCP’s ETU Recommendation and Laboratory Stewardship Champion programs. ASCP has been actively engaged in creating these recommendations since the Choosing Wisely program’s inception in 2012, and we are proud to continue the tradition of promoting laboratory stewardship under the new banner. Our Quality and Patient Safety Steering Committee is actively reviewing this year’s evidence-based ETU recommendation submissions, and we look forward to announcing our next round of recommendations this summer.  

Please stay tuned for more updates on ASCP’s efforts to provide the right test to the right patient at the right time.  

On May 2, President Donald Trump sent a partial budget request to Congress. The request proposes a massive cut in non-defense discretionary spending of 23 percent while boosting defense spending 13 percent. Overall, it cuts federal spending $163 billion in FY 2026, with the biggest cuts impacting healthcare, education, foreign aid, and environmental programs.  

While Congress generally doesn’t follow presidential budget requests exactly, they do lay out the Administration’s key priorities, and Congress has already begun working toward meeting these requests. For example, Congress approved a budget blueprint in early April requiring $1.7 trillion in savings over the next 10 years, in line with the President’s request.  

The Administration’s partial budget proposal is largely consistent with a leaked Office of Management and Budget’s passback document outlining the Trump Administration’s initial budget plans for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The passback would impose huge cuts in spending for healthcare agencies and programs, including workforce development programs on which the healthcare industry depends.  

Overall, funding at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be cut 34 percent, with HHS getting $80 billion in 2026, rather than that $121 billion it was allocated for 2025. In addition, funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would be cut from $9.2 billion to nearly $5.2 billion, a 44 percent cut. The National Institutes of Health would be slashed 40 percent, with funding decreasing from $47 billion to $27 billion. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would see its discretionary budget cut by $674M to $4.1 billion, or 14 percent. The President’s request here does not impact mandatory spending programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid benefits, though eligibility to these programs could be impacted in the coming months. 

The proposal eliminates funding for several HHS agencies, including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Administration for Community Living, and others.  

The proposed elimination of HRSA is obviously a concern for ASCP, as the agency is responsible for many of the federal government healthcare workforce development programs. Among the HRSA programs that would be eliminated under the Trump proposed budget are the following: Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, Faculty Loan Repayment, Public Health Workforce Development, Medical School Education, Area Health Education Centers. With the exception of the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students and Faculty Loan Repayment Program, laboratory professionals were generally not able to access federal workforce dollars from HRSA. 

It is not clear from the document what impact it may have on the laboratory training and support programs currently administered by CDC. ASCP will be monitoring the reconciliation process closely over the coming months to learn more about how the cuts at CDC and other healthcare agencies will impact the laboratory field. 

In Congress, Republicans on the House Education Committee recently proposed a number of significant cuts to key education programs and the cuts to federal student loan programs could have serious implications for STEM/healthcare fields. For example, the House Education and Workforce Committee approved legislation that would eliminate subsidized loans to undergraduates, eliminate the graduate student loan program, cap loans for existing borrowers, set strict limits on Parent PLUS loans, tighten eligibility for Pell Grants, and require colleges and universities to reimburse the federal government for a portion of any student loan debt that their students fail to repay.   

The Committee also modified eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, eliminating time spent in medical or dental residency programs. In addition, Income Contingent Loan Repayment Programs (ICRP) would be replaced with the Administration’s proposed “Repayment Assistance Plan.”  This proposal would also change the terms after which any outstanding debt could be forgiven. Previously, individuals meeting their payment obligations under income contingent loan repayment programs would have outstanding loans dismissed after 20 to 25 years, depending on the program. Under the Trump plan, it would take 30 years before loans could be forgiven.  

Many of these programs are critical to financing careers in medicine and healthcare. In addition, a recent ASCP survey found that laboratory professionals have been using both the PSLF and ICRP programs to help manage student debt. 

Both the healthcare field, which is dependent on large numbers of individuals with baccalaureate and graduate degrees, as well as the student financial aid community have expressed concern about the impact these proposals could have on college attendance and workforce development. That said, the House Education Committee’s proposal is in its early stages and will likely undergo changes before legislation could be made available for the president to sign into law. ASCP will be monitoring this situation closely and will be working with its advocacy partners to protect workforce development programs that serve the laboratory workforce. 

ASCP launched its 2025 Wage Survey on April 1, collecting responses from more than 10,000 laboratory professionals across the United States. The survey has since closed. This comprehensive biennial survey continues ASCP’s longstanding commitment—since 1988—to provide the most current and reliable wage data on the nation’s clinical laboratory workforce. As the primary source of wage information used by academic institutions, government agencies, and industry analysts, the survey offers insights into the state of the profession. With the field of laboratory medicine evolving rapidly, the survey also serves as a platform for ASCP members to share their experiences, concerns, and suggestions.  

Additionally, ASCP’s survey has helped laboratory professionals advocate for improved wage compensation and workplace conditions. Findings from our 2023 Wage Survey identified significant salary increases since our 2021 survey. The 2025 survey aims to build on this critical data, helping to inform workforce planning, policy development, and continue advocacy efforts that support the laboratory profession.  

You can access the 2023 Wage Survey results here. 

For more information on our workforce resources, please visit our workforce webpage. ASCP’s ePolicy will update members with the new data once it is published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 

With Congress now back in session after its April recess, it is renewing its focus on developing a budget reconciliation package to enact the federal spending cuts that President Trump has proposed. One issue of significant concern that ASCP believes Congress must address is Medicare payment reform. For years now, payment rate updates to the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) have not kept pace with inflation. PFS payment rates have declined in real terms by 33 percent since 2001, largely due to the impact of inflation. Earlier this year, Congress failed to reverse a 2.83 percent cut in the PFS, its fifth annual consecutive cut. 

On April 25, the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC), an advisory committee to Congress on Medicare policy, recommended once again that Congress update PFS payment rates annually to account for inflation. ASCP greatly appreciates MedPAC’s leadership here and is continuing its campaign lobbying Congress to follow suit. 

As ASCP’s motto, “Stronger Together,” truly incorporates how organizations are more likely to achieve success when we work together, we are working in concert with our advocacy partners, such as the American Medical Association and all other medical specialty societies supporting Medicare PFS reform, to enact legislation to update Medicare’s rates. 

Consequently, ASCP is asking all its members as well as their colleagues to urge Congress to pass the “Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act" (H.R. 879), introduced by Representatives Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). The legislation would reverse the 2.83 percent cut for 2025 and add a 2 percent update. This increase is critical to helping stabilize pathology practices and clinical laboratories to ensure our field can continue providing patients with ready access to the quality pathology and laboratory services they need. 

ASCP urges you to use the following link to our eAdvocacy Center to send a brief message to Congress asking them to enact the “Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act." Click here. 

On April 25, ASCP wrote U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging the Department not to appeal U.S. District Court Judge Sean Jordon’s decision in the case of the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) et. al vs. FDA. In his decision, Judge Jordon ruled that the FDA lacked the statutory authority to regulate laboratory developed testing (LDT) services, vacating the agency’s rule (for more information, see here).  

In our letter to Secretary Kennedy, ASCP noted that “Judge Jordon wrote [in his decision] that ‘…the text, structure, and history of the [Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act] FDCA, and [Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments] CLIA make clear that FDA lacks the authority to regulate laboratory-developed test services.’”  ASCP also pointed out that Alex Azar, HHS Secretary during President Trump’s first term, blocked FDA from exercising oversight of LDT services because of a legal opinion from the HHS General Counsel asserting that FDA lacked authority to claim oversight of LDT services. 

ASCP, which submitted an amicus brief supporting ACLA’s case against FDA, remains strongly opposed to the FDA’s oversight of LDTs due to its excessive bureaucratic and monetary requirements, delays, and burdens. ASCP believes that maintaining the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ current oversight of these services via CLIA is critical to ensuring patient access to critical laboratory services. 

Judge Jordon’s decision gives FDA 60 days to appeal. ASCP will update its membership on whether HHS appeals the ACLA vs. FDA lawsuit. 

Two of North America’s premier pathology organizations — the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the Canadian Association of Pathologists- Association Canadienne des Pathologistes (CAP-ACP) — will host a joint annual meeting in Montreal, November 17-20, 2026. This landmark event will bring together pathologists and medical laboratory professionals from across the United States and Canada to share knowledge, drive innovation, and reinforce the critical role of laboratory medicine in delivering high-quality patient care.

Amid rising concerns about misinformation and eroding confidence in healthcare systems, this joint meeting symbolizes a commitment to science- and evidence-based practice, collaboration, and transparency. Together, these organizations are working to equip their members with the tools, insights, and strategies they need to lead change, support clinical decision-making, and ultimately ensure patients receive the most accurate diagnoses and treatments. 

“Partnering with CAP-ACP for the 2026 Annual Meeting is more than a collaboration—it’s a shared commitment to elevate the field of pathology. Together, we’re creating a space where knowledge flows freely, innovation is sparked, and the foundations of trust in medicine are strengthened. By uniting our expertise, we’re helping to put confidence back at the center of the healthcare conversation, where it belongs,” says Greg Sossaman, MD, MASCP, President of ASCP.  

This joint meeting shows a powerful connection between ASCP and CAP-ACP and reflects the shared educational goals and commitment to advancing pathology and laboratory medicine.  

“By bringing our communities together, we’re not only fostering innovation but also shaping the future of diagnostic excellence. It’s through collaboration like this that we create meaningful progress for both our profession and the patients we serve,” Dr. Sossaman says.  

“Not only will this be a ground-breaking collaboration, but this unique event will also help the CAP-ACP continue to learn from the ASCP’s proven philosophy of recognizing and honouring the lab as a team. Many medical laboratory scientists and non-physician laboratory professionals in Canada will have a unique opportunity for education and networking thanks to the ASCP’s presence and contributions,” says Jason Karamchandani, MD, President of CAP-ACP.   

Through a comprehensive educational program featuring expert-led sessions, hands-on workshops, and emerging research presentations, the joint ASCP and CAP-ACP meeting will provide access to best-in-class professional development. Attendees will gain deep insights into cutting-edge technologies, evolving clinical practices, and the future of pathology and laboratory medicine. 

“Lab medicine isn’t going to get less complex, and it will continue to be an essential part of quality patient care. We laboratory professionals will hit obstacles. We will encounter new challenges, but we will do this stronger together – sharing a fundamental commitment to improving the lives of the patients who need our care, and with an unwavering commitment to respect ALL members of the lab medicine team,” Dr. Karamchandani says.  

By uniting their voices and expertise, ASCP and CAP-ACP are ensuring that the laboratory stays at the forefront and remains the foundation of medical science — a crucial step in maintaining the laboratory’s pivotal role in delivering trusted, timely, and precise care. This collaboration represents a movement that empowers the laboratory community to lead with integrity, foster innovation, and rebuild confidence across the entire healthcare continuum. 

About ASCP 
Founded in 1922 in Chicago, ASCP is a medical professional society with more than 100,000 member board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologists, pathology residents and fellows, laboratory professionals, and students. ASCP provides excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals. To learn more, visit http://www.ascp.org. Follow us on Twitter and connect with us on Facebook. 

About CAP–ACP 
Founded in 1949 in Ontario, the Canadian Association of Pathologists - Association canadienne des pathologistes (CAP-ACP) is the national specialty society for pathology and lab medicine in Canada. The CAP-ACP, a voluntary professional organization, advances the interests of the profession and promotes high quality standards for patient care by providing national leadership and promoting excellence in pathology and laboratory medicine practice, education and research. To learn more, visit http://www.cap-acp.org. Follow us on Twitter and connect with us on Facebook. 

Media Contact: 
Molly Strzelecki, ASCP, molly.strzelecki@ascp.org, www.ascp.org   

ASCP Continues Push to Stop FDA’s LDT Rule as Stage 1 Compliance Approaches 

The FDA’s final rule on laboratory developed tests (LDTs) is set to take effect on May 6, but ASCP continues to push for a delay through legal, legislative, and administrative channels. ASCP supports the Freedom for Laboratory Testing and Innovation Act, which would block FDA funding for implementing the rule, and has launched an Action Alert urging members to advocate for congressional support. Read more.  

Congress Fails to Fix Medicare 

Congress approved a budget bill on March 14, which President Trump has signed, but it did not include a fix for declining Medicare payment rates. ASCP and other medical organizations had urged Congress to reverse cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) and plan to continue lobbying for Medicare payment reform and are urging their members to take action. Read more. 

Supreme Court Ruling on Coverage of Preventive Services Could Impact Patients and the Laboratory  

The USPSTF recently released updated draft recommendations for cervical cancer screening, maintaining a "Grade A" designation for co-testing, which ensures full insurance coverage under the ACA. In April, the Supreme Court will hear a challenge regarding whether USPSTF-recommended screenings, including cervical cancer tests, must remain fully covered at no cost to patients. ASCP is closely monitoring the case, as a ruling against coverage could reduce patient access to critical preventive tests like cancer, diabetes, and STD screenings. Read more. 

Advancing Laboratory Science: Key Takeaways from the COLA 2024 Workforce Action Alliance Summit 

COLA hosted its second annual summit on the medical laboratory workforce, bringing together industry leaders to assess progress and set new priorities. The resulting Workforce Action Alliance (WAA) Summit Proceedings Document outlines key efforts to address workforce shortages, including improved data collection, clearer career pathways, and future skill development, explores emerging trends like automation, AI, and value-based healthcare, and offers strategies to build a sustainable laboratory science workforce. Read more. 

Building Bridges Series Illuminates Laboratory Careers  

ASCP’s Building Bridges Across the Laboratory Community webinar series returned on February 12 and will focus on laboratory career pathways and the impact of formative experiences. This free, six-part series features expert panel discussions, offers 1.5 CMLE credits per session, and aims to elevate career visibility, support career transitions, and promote workforce retention. Read more.  

Interactive Amazing Lab Returns to ASCP KnowledgeLab Conference 

The Amazing Lab Race is an interactive educational event that uses a competition format to help laboratory leaders apply ASCP’s Negotiation and Advocacy Toolbox for effective lab advocacy. The event will return as the closing session of KnowledgeLab 2025 in Scottsdale, AZ, encouraging laboratory leaders to enhance their advocacy skills and secure leadership investment. Read more.  

Ring Scholars Highlight the Value of Scholarship 

The 2025-2026 application window for the Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Scholarship for Laboratory Professionals is now open, offering financial support for students pursuing medical laboratory education. This scholarship is designed for U.S. citizens from medically underserved or rural areas who aim to build laboratory capacity in their communities. Read more.  

The 2025-2026 application window for the Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Scholarship for Laboratory Professionals is now open, and eligible students pursuing medical laboratory education are encouraged to apply here. Applications will be accepted through May 31, 2025.  

This scholarship provides financial support for direct academic tuition or needs-based expenses for students interested in entering or advancing their medical laboratory education. Students must be U.S. citizens from medically underserved and/or rural areas looking to practice in and build laboratory capacity in their communities.  

This unique scholarship opportunity was recently featured in a ASCP Critical Values article titled, “Ring Scholarship Supports the Pipeline of Training Laboratory Professionals,” which profiles five recipients of the inaugural Ring Scholarships (Ring Scholars), offered for the 2024-2025 academic year. Through independent pathways, each of the Ring Scholars found professional fulfillment in the medical laboratory, with education supported (in part) through this valuable scholarship.  

Please share program information and promotional flyers (available in English and Spanish) widely with your Network!  

The Amazing Lab Race, a highly engaging live education event for laboratory leaders, leverages the format of the Amazing Race to bring awareness and application of the ASCP Negotiation and Advocacy Toolbox to laboratory advocacy efforts. This Toolbox provides clinical laboratory leaders with more than 100 free templates, tools, and resources developed and vetted by ASCP members, to adapt for a data-driven approach to advocating for their laboratory to C-Suite and hospital administration.  

The Amazing Lab Race competition first debuted at KnowledgeLab 2024 in San Antonio, Texas, where clinical laboratory leaders Stephanie Whitehead and Brittany Teeter brought home the Race trophy. Since then, Amazing Lab Races have been conducted at regional and national ASCP meetings in Chicago, IL, and Verona, NY, and have been shown to be an interactive and fun way to navigate the Toolbox materials, identify tools and resources of interest for advocacy efforts, and apply them to practical scenarios facing laboratory leaders.  

The Amazing Lab Race will be showcased at ASCP’s upcoming KnowledgeLab 2025 meeting as the closing general session on Tuesday, April 8:, “Amazing Lab Race 2025: Scottsdale, AZ – Building a High-Value Lab: Leveraging the Negotiation & Advocacy Toolbox to Win Leadership Investment.” ASCP encourages all new and seasoned laboratory leaders attending the meeting to participate in this unique and empowering event! 

The popular ASCP webinar series, Building Bridges Across the Laboratory Community (Building Bridges), kicked off its third series of webinars on February 12 with free registration available here.  

This year’s series will focus on highlighting the diverse array of laboratory career pathways and how exposure to formative experiences can shape these laboratory career trajectories. This multi-part series will feature five esteemed panelists per webinar session followed by a moderated Question & Answer session. Live attendance at each webinar session will confer 1.5 hours of CMLE credit.  

The goals of the series are to: 1) elevate the visibility of laboratory career pathways, 2) encourage those considering laboratory careers or navigating career changes to better understand and actualize career paths from peers, and 3) promote retention of the laboratory workforce through collaborative, enriching, and community-building discussion.  

The first webinar featured career trajectories of laboratory professionals in executive leadership positions across laboratory and healthcare systems and drew in over 300 attendees. The video recording of this inaugural webinar as well as the webinar presentation and supporting materials are freely available here. Register now for the entire series and share widely with your network of colleagues and trainees!   

In December, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released updated draft recommendations for cervical cancer screening for public comment. In our comment letter, ASCP thanked the Task Force for maintaining choice in cervical cancer screening and lauded the group for upholding a “Grade A” designation for co-testing. This designation pertains to insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), wherein screening tests designated as Grade A are fully covered with no cost to the patient. The final USPSTF cervical cancer screening recommendations are still pending. 

Relatedly, on January 10, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to whether screening services — including cervical cancer screening tests — recommended by the USPSTF must be fully covered at no charge to patients under the ACA. The court will likely hear arguments in this case in April and rule on the case in late June or July. The case has important implications for both laboratories and patients alike, as the covered preventive services include high-volume tests like diabetes and cholesterol testing, screening for sexually transmitted diseases, and cancer screenings. If the court rules that these services are no longer covered at no cost to patients, uptake by patients of these critical preventive testing services will likely decline. This is the first challenge to the ACA’s preventive services provision, but because this provision is one of the more popular of those in the ACA, it is ASCP’s hope that the court will rule that the services should remain covered. ASCP will monitor developments in this significant case as they arise.  

On March 14, Congress approved a budget bill funding the federal government for the rest of the 2025 fiscal year. The legislation was signed by President Trump the next day. Missing from the budget package, however, was a fix for the rapidly shrinking Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (payment rates today are 33 percent lower in real terms than in 2001). ASCP and its grassroots network of dedicated pathologists and laboratory professionals have been lobbying Congress to address declining Medicare payments, both for the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS). In advance of Friday’s vote, ASCP joined 56 other organizations in a statement urging Congress to reverse this year’s cuts in the PFS as part of the budget deal. 

ASCP has been working with the American Medical Association and other concerned organizations to coordinate lobbying to fix the PFS. Last month, ASCP released an Action Alert supporting the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, which would reverse the 2.84 percent 2025 cut in the PFS and provide a 2 percent update. ASCP also sent a letter to Congressional leaders endorsing the measure with the hope that it would be included in the recent budget bill.  

With the budget bill signed into law without a Medicare fix, ASCP and its allies will continue pushing Congress to address declining Medicare payment rates, both for the PFS and the CLFS. ASCP is asking its members and their colleagues to use the ASCP Action Alert to prod Congress to enact Medicare payment reform this year. ASCP will be releasing a separate Action Alert focused on the CLFS soon.  

The May 6 stage 1 implementation date for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule exercising regulatory oversight over laboratory developed tests (LDTs) is fast approaching. Despite this looming deadline, ASCP continues to press for a reprieve from the FDA’s requirements. ASCP is looking for intervention from multiple entities, including the Court, Congress, and the Trump Administration. 

ASCP recently endorsed legislation—the Freedom for Laboratory Testing and Innovation Act—that would prohibit the FDA from using any federal funds to implement the rule. In addition, ASCP has launched an Action Alert to empower our members and their colleagues to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to support this important bill. Please take part in this important initiative by using ASCP’s eAdvocacy Center here. Similarly, ASCP and almost all other pathology and laboratory medicine organizations strongly oppose the VALID Act, which would create a similar massively bureaucratic and costly oversight scheme giving the FDA oversight over LDTs. 

On February 19, oral arguments were heard in the combined lawsuits brought by the American Clinical Laboratory Association and the Association for Molecular Pathology against the FDA. ASCP filed an amicus brief with the Court opposing FDA’s oversight of LDTs. ASCP hopes to see a favorable decision by Judge Sean Jordon soon, possibly by the end of March. ASCP will report on the judge’s decision as soon as it is released.  

In addition, ASCP has written the Trump Administration requesting that it rescind the FDA’s LDT rule. Congress is still in the process of confirming President Trump’s nominees for key federal healthcare agencies, including the FDA, and the administration has not yet outlined its views on the FDA LDT rule. 

With less than two months to go before the FDA implements stage 1 of its Final Rule on LDTs, ASCP strongly recommends that labs continue working toward stage 1 compliance. ASCP will continue to follow this issue closely and will report immediately if the May 6 implementation date is delayed or suspended. 

The American Proficiency Institute (API) donated $160,000 to the ASCP Foundation in support of its efforts to promote excellence in laboratory medicine. The ASCP Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, provides funding for educational programs and services, supports workforce shortage initiatives, and raises the visibility of the laboratory globally. 

API, long a champion of scholarship and education for laboratory professionals, views this donation as a commitment to the quality and availability of laboratory medicine in the U.S. and abroad.   

“The vital impact of laboratory medicine on patient care and public health is undeniable,” said API President Sue Harmer, MT(ASCP). “At API, we consider it our responsibility to support the profession through educational opportunities and scholarships. Our donation to the ASCP Foundation will further this charge.”   

“The ASCP Foundation is delighted with the generous contribution from API,” said Anne Walsh-Feeks, MS, MASCP, PA(ASCP)CM, FACHE, ASCP Foundation Chair. “For more than two decades, API has worked in partnership with ASCP to further our educational programs and commentaries.” 

“Medical laboratory scientists hold a special place in our hearts,” added Ms. Harmer. “I was certified as a medical technologist, and many API staff members are too. We care greatly about the quality and accuracy of laboratory medicine and want this donation to reflect that pride.” 

The American Proficiency Institute is one of the largest proficiency testing providers in the world, serving over 20,000 laboratories. API offers innovative solutions and technical excellence for the proficiency testing needs of hospital and reference laboratories, physician offices, clinics, and point-of-care testing sites. 

Contributions like those from the American Proficiency Institute, along with ASCP individual donors, allow the ASCP Foundation to continue advancing our mission and serving patients and members alike. If you are interested in donating to the ASCP General Fund, click here.  

ASCP’s Great Plains Chapter will bring Nebraska’s can-do spirit to Arizona when it hosts KnowledgeLab 2025 on April 7 and 8 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Great Plains Chapter’s leaders will share their know-how of how to build a thriving chapter. 

“We are honored to be invited to host KnowledgeLab 2025,” says Great Plains Chapter President Shanan Fuhrman, MLS(ASCP)^CM.  

Arizona doesn’t have a chapter at present and the Great Plains Chapter has been very strong for a long time.  

“The mantle of strong leadership has been handed down by previous presidents of the Great Plains Chapter over the years,” Mr. Fuhrman says. “This is an opportunity for our members to share what we are doing and help other chapters get started. We are helping to grow the profession.”  

Mr. Fuhrman and several other board members of the Great Plains Chapter, including President-elect Linsey Donner, PhD, MPH, CPH, MLS(ASCP)^CM, who served on the KnowledgeLab planning committee, and Jaime Perry, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, will participate in the KnowledgeLab opening ceremony to welcome attendees.    

“We’ll have a Chapter Meet-up session on day one during lunch, where there will be round tables with discussion topics to help attendees build and grow their local chapters while making connections with other members to encourage networking with future collaboration,” Mr. Fuhrman says. “To help raise chapter awareness and interaction, there will be chapter stickers handed out at registration.” 

The Great Plains Chapter leaders will be on hand to answer questions and talk about how to start a chapter. A key to maintaining a strong chapter is to have current leaders mentor up-and-coming leaders and to have a succession plan in place.   

“Succession planning is something our chapter has done really well,” Mr. Fuhrman says. “When you have a succession plan in place, you don’t lose institutional knowledge for how things are done. That is what builds your chapter up. Starting a chapter is the first step.” 

Register for KnowledgeLab 2025 here.