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August 09, 2025
In this issue:
Senate Appropriations Committee Restores NIH, CDC Funding
ASCP Opposes Pharmacist SOP Bill
ICYMI: New Job Aid Assists Laboratory Professionals in Using AI
Where Lab Science Leads: ASCP’s New Career Resource and National Outreach
ICYMI: ASCP and PLUGS Design Education to Enhance Diagnostic Testing of Celiac Disease
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2026 spending bill, proposing significant funding increases for key health agencies, including a $400 million boost to the NIH budget and the reversal of proposed cuts to indirect research grant costs. The bill also preserves funding for global health initiatives at the CDC and NIH, rejecting the administration’s proposed eliminations and reductions. Read more.
ASCP is urging Congress to reconsider the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, which would authorize pharmacists to perform evaluation and management services for certain common illnesses. In a letter to lawmakers, the groups warned that such services exceed pharmacists' training and could compromise patient safety, especially if expanded during public health emergencies. Read more.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent in laboratory administration, offering solutions to ease workloads and address staff shortages. To guide the laboratory team in using these tools effectively and ethically, ASCP has developed a job aid that outlines best practices and suggests specific AI applications for common administrative tasks. Read more.
ASCP’s Workforce Steering Committee and Board of Certification launched a new career resource, Where Can Medical Laboratory Science Take You?, highlighting the wide variety of career paths available to laboratory professionals. This tool can help engage hundreds of school counselors and educators to promote lab science careers and inspire the next generation of professionals. Read more.
Celiac disease is frequently underdiagnosed or mistaken for other conditions. To address this, ASCP is partnering with Patient-Centered Laboratory Utilization Guidance Services (PLUGS) to create educational resources that clarify which laboratory tests are most appropriate—and when to use them—for accurate diagnosis and effective management of celiac disease. Read more.
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