LAB Act Gains Traction: Act Now to Help

On July 17, 2019, NILA and other laboratory stakeholders sent a letter of support for the Laboratory Access for Beneficiaries (LAB) Act to (H.R. 2584) the Hill in advance of the Energy & Commerce Committee’s mark-up of their health package. Just before the close of the mark-up, Congressman Peters (D-CA), the lead sponsor of the bill, spoke in support of the legislation and urged action on the bill this year. He also referenced the letter of support and asked for it to be included in the record! Chairman Pallone committed to working with Congressman Peters on the bill before the extenders package 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. Yesterday, NILA launched a grassroots campaign urging you to reach out to your House representative 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 member of Congress today and ask them to cosponsor the LAB Act. Additionally, we urge you to find their phone number on their website and call the office to ask them to cosponsor the LAB Act. Every action counts!

Grassroots Campaign Now Through July 24, 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 bill 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 bill 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.

AAB needs you and your laboratory staff to encourage your representative to cosponsor the bill.

1. Engage in the campaign July 17-July 24. Time is of the essence to get the LAB Act passed. The sooner you send your representative an email, the better! Congress' August recess is scheduled to begin on July 29, so we are conducting the grassroots effort now to help move the bill along before the August recess.


2. Involve your laboratory employees in this effort. Each laboratory employee should personalize a form letter provided by AAB by filling in the highlighted yellow areas and email it to their House representative through their websites. Remember, volume matters!


3. 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 congress member’s website.


4. Send questions/concerns and any follow-up you receive to the AAB national office.

Your participation and your employees' participation is critical in getting the House of Representatives to pass the LAB Act!