Legislation Gutting Laboratory Personnel Licensure Opposed by ASCP

ASCP and the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) recently voiced strong opposition to legislation being considered by the Tennessee legislature to undermine the state’s licensure of laboratory professionals.  The oddly worded legislation, HB 318 and SB 328, would exempt laboratory professionals employed by “privately-owned laboratories” from the Tennessee Medical Laboratory Act, which licenses laboratory professionals. The measure would seemly eliminate the need for almost all of the state’s 6,400-plus laboratories to employ licensed laboratory personnel. As such, the legislation undermines the state’s academic education, clinical training, professional certification, and continuing education requirements. 

In a letter to Tennessee legislators, ASCP wrote, “Due to the complexity of laboratory medicine and its importance in quality patient care, it is imperative that medical laboratory personnel possess the qualifications necessary to ensure their professional competence.” ASCP has been in frequent contact with members of the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives health care committees, urging them to oppose the measure. 

Other articles in ePolicy News March 2019

AACC, ASCP Partner on Test Quality
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ASCP Aligns with AMA on Network Adequacy and Transparency
ASCLS Legislative Symposium Set for March 18-19

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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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