Hazard Pay, Mental Health Benefits Sought for Pathologists, Laboratory Professionals

ASCP wrote congressional leadership in support of hazard pay and other benefits for clinical laboratory staff providing COVID-19 testing. In a letter developed by the Association for Molecular Pathology, ASCP and others wrote, “Given the ongoing shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the danger of being exposed to COVID-19 during sample collection, transport, and processing, laboratory staff and health professionals are at high risk of exposure” and should be provided hazard pay in return. Providing hazard pay to the laboratory workforce is one of the key policy recommendations of the ASCP National Diagnostic Testing and Support Strategy.

In addition, ASCP endorsed a letter from Representative Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) to House leadership seeking their support to ensure that healthcare professionals, such as laboratory professionals, be able to access mental health resources, if necessary, to deal with stress and job burnout and other mental health issues related to the rigors of providing healthcare services to COVID-19 patients. ASCP worked with Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s office to broaden the scope of the letter to ensure all healthcare workers providing patient care services, not just those treating patients, would be able to secure coverage for these important services. Coincidently, Rep. Krishnamoorthi has been active in congressional oversight of COVID-19 testing as he chairs a House of Representatives panel that is examining the effectiveness of COVID-19 antibody tests.


Other articles in the May 2020 ePolicy News:

• New Law Includes Funding for COVID-19 Testing, ASCP Recommendations for Testing Strategy
• ASCP Urges Creation of National COVID-19 Testing Task Force
• AMA Endorses ASCP’s Call for a National Testing Strategy
• Governors, State Health Directors Hear from ASCP BOC about COVID-19 Response
• ASCP, FDA Share Similar Concerns on Antigen Testing
• ASCP Interviewed about Job Satisfaction, Well-Being of Pathologists
• CMS Urged to Consider Specialists When Implementing MIPS Value Pathways
• Updated Risk-Based Guidelines Now Published for Management of Abnormal Results in Cervical Cancer Screening and Colposcopy

To read more articles from ePolicy News click here.

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

 

 

 

ASCP ePolicy News is supported by an unrestricted grant from Hologic.