LAB Act (HR 3584) Gains Traction: Act Now to Help
On July 17, 2019, NILA and other laboratory stakeholders forwarded a letter to Capitol Hill in support of the Laboratory Access for Beneficiaries (LAB) Act, H.R. 3584, in advance of the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s mark-up of its health package. Just before the close of the mark-up, Congressman Peters (D-CA), the lead sponsor of the LAB Act, spoke in support of the LAB Act and urged action on the bill this year. He also referenced the laboratory industry's letter of support and asked for it to be included in the record! Chairman Pallone (D-NJ) committed to working with Congressman Peters (D-CA) in support of the LAB Act before a bill to extend many Medicare provisions (to which the LAB Act may be amended) goes to the House floor.
This is a very positive step for our efforts to advance the LAB Act, the first step in comprehensive PAMA reform. On July 17, 2019, NILA launched a grassroots campaign urging you to reach out to your House representatives and ask that they cosponsor the LAB Act (see below). Now, more than ever, we need your help reaching out to urge action. Please email your members of Congress today and ask them to cosponsor the LAB Act. Additionally, we urge you to find their telephone number on their website and call their office to ask them to cosponsor the LAB Act. Every action counts!
Grassroots Campaign Now Through September 30, 2019
On June 27th, the LAB Act, H.R. 3584, was introduced in the House. The LAB Act is an important first step in addressing the flawed implementation of PAMA that caused dramatic cuts to Medicare's Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule.
The LAB Act would delay the next round of PAMA data reporting by one year to ensure that all applicable laboratories that are required to report private payor data have the necessary time to do so. The LAB Act also calls for the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) to provide recommendations to Congress on less burdensome data collection methods and representative reimbursement rate calculations that result in the reliable, sustainable, market-based system originally intended by Congress.
NILA needs you and your laboratory staff to encourage your representative to cosponsor the LAB Act (HR 3584).
- Engage in the campaign. Time is of the essence to get the LAB Act passed, and
- Involve your laboratory employees in this effort. Each laboratory employee should personalize a form letter provided by NILA by filling in the highlighted yellow areas and emailing it to their House representative through their representative's website. Remember, volume matters!
- Distribute to your employees the grassroots instructions that provide a step-by-step outline detailing how to submit the letter via a form on the House member’s website.
- Send questions/concerns and any follow-up you receive to the NILA national office.
Your participation and your employees' participation is critical in getting the House of Representatives to pass the LAB Act!