ASCP members’ voices were heard when they submitted more than 10,000 letters this fall to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress in opposition to CMS’ highly controversial proposal to cap Medicare payments for important life-saving diagnostic tests and procedures. Last week, CMS announced it would drop the proposal from its CY 2014 Medicare Physicians Fee Schedule (PFS).

However, the Society remains concerned about other aspects of the CY 2014 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule, including CMS’ plan to review and revalue all 1,250 codes on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS). ASCP is also concerned about a new policy to bundle outpatient physician and clinical laboratory services.

Steven Kroft, MD, FASCP, ASCP President and Vice Chair for Clinical Pathology and Director of Hematopathology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said, “We are thankful that CMS eliminated the proposed cap, but are concerned that other decisions could disrupt the affordable supply of life-saving diagnostic services for patients.”