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ASCP ACTION ALERT
TARGETS CMS
MASSIVE CUTS IN PATHOLOGY/LABORATORY REIMBURSEMENT THREATEN PATIENT ACCESS, JOBS, AND LAB OPERATIONS
ASCP recently urged you to contact Congress about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed cuts in reimbursement for essential pathology and laboratory services. This follow-up alert now asks you to urge CMS to abandon these harmful cuts in pathology and laboratory payment rates.
The proposed cuts are outlined in CMS’ 2014 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. One of the proposals would cap payment rates for services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule at rates paid under the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System. The proposed cuts apply to the technical component and global payments for pathology and laboratory services. CMS estimates the cut in reimbursement for independent laboratories at approximately 26 percent. ASCP is very concerned that cuts of this magnitude could result in significant layoffs and/or the closure or downsizing of some laboratories, thus threatening patient access to important medical services.
ASCP encourages you to use the ASCP eAdvocacy Center to send a quick message to CMS. ASCP has developed a draft letter that you can personalize. Please take a moment to help prevent these cuts from affecting you and your colleagues.
For more details on the cuts proposed by CMS for pathology and laboratory services, see ASCP’s recent analysis in ASCP e-Policy News.
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