ePolicy News—July 2025

Supreme Court Decision on USPSTF Produces Uncertainty 

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services mandate and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) appointments, securing continued access to preventive care for patients. However, the ruling also gave the HHS Secretary the authority to remove USPSTF members and reject their recommendations, raising concerns about political interference and the Task Force’s scientific independence. ASCP and partner organizations are now evaluating the ruling’s implications for future preventive service recommendations and access. Read more. 

President Signs Massive Tax and Budget Bill 

President Trump’s One, Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) has been signed into law, bringing sweeping changes to healthcare, student financial aid, and artificial intelligence policy. While the bill includes positive provisions like a Medicare Physician Fee Schedule increase and expanded 529 fund usage for credentialing programs, it also introduces concerning cuts to Medicaid, CHIP, and federal student loan programs, potentially impacting healthcare workforce development. ASCP and other medical societies have raised alarms about the bill’s potential to worsen healthcare access, student debt burdens, and physician shortages. Read more.  

State of Science Address Calls for Radical Reform of STEM in the U.S. 

In her State of Science address, National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt warned that the U.S. is losing ground in global scientific leadership due to declining STEM investment, outdated policies, and regulatory burdens. She and fellow panelists called for major reforms, including streamlined regulations, modernized funding, and education initiatives to restore American competitiveness. ASCP supports these efforts through advocacy, workforce outreach, and its Institute for Science, Technology and Policy, promoting evidence-based policy and advancing laboratory medicine as a pillar of U.S. scientific leadership. Read more. 

ASCP’s Leading Laboratories Recognition Program is Now Open to More Laboratories! 

ASCP’s Leading Laboratories recognition program has expanded to include all hospital-based accredited laboratories in the U.S., beyond just those accredited by The Joint Commission. The program celebrates laboratories for leadership, mentorship, innovation, and their essential role in improving patient care, while also supporting recruitment and investment through public recognition of excellence. ASCP aims to raise awareness of the laboratory community and promote diagnostic excellence by offering more labs the opportunity to showcase their achievements and commitment to quality. Read more.  

ASCP Voices Concern Over Disbanding of ACIP 

On June 9, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), raising serious concerns among health organizations, including ASCP, about the spread of misinformation and damage to public trust in vaccine science. The decision comes amid rising cases of preventable diseases and the appointment of some new committee members who lack relevant expertise or hold vaccine-skeptical views, risking a loss of scientific rigor and institutional memory. In response, ASCP joined a coalition of medical organizations in supporting an emergency AMA resolution demanding the reversal of the dismissals and a Senate investigation, underscoring its leadership in advocating for evidence-based vaccine policy. Read more.  

Launching the Future of Laboratory Science: ASCP Campaign Targets Next-Gen Talent 

ASCP and the Medical and Public Health Laboratory Workforce Coalition launched a national campaign to promote medical laboratory careers to students, educators, and counselors through email, social media, and educator publications. Centered around the message “Save Lives with Science,” the campaign aims to address critical lab staffing shortages by raising awareness of career pathways in laboratory medicine. Read more.  

Ring Scholarship Expands Access Through Varied Outreach 

ASCP recently closed the second year of applications for the Dr. Alvin Ring Empowerment Scholarship, which supports students from medically underserved or rural areas pursuing education in medical laboratory sciences. This year ASCP implemented targeted outreach strategies—such as engaging with science teachers, school counselors, and promoting the scholarship on public websites—which led to a 55% increase in eligible applications and 10 submissions from high school students. Read more.  

Addressing Workforce Challenges: ASCP at the 2025 CMSS Workforce Summit 

ASCP joined more than 20 medical societies at the 2025 CMSS workforce summit to address physician workforce challenges, including rural shortages, healthcare consolidation, and reliance on international medical graduates. ASCP reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the pathology workforce through data-driven advocacy and career pathway development, led by the Institute for Science, Technology, and Policy. Read more.  

Empowering New Lab Staff with Foundational Skills 

ASCP has launched a free eLearning series, “Basic Medical Laboratory Skills,” offering beginner-friendly, CMLE-accredited courses on foundational laboratory topics such as safety, terminology, math, equipment, procedures, and quality control. Designed by ASCP experts to support lab directors and new team members, the series helps ease the burden of on-the-job training and provides practical, case-based learning for those entering or refreshing their knowledge in medical laboratory work. Read more.