Description
December 16, 2025
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program - CY 2026
Rural health leaders push to improve MA prior authorization
Watch: How to send an action alert
Tell Congress to stop flawed Medicare payment cuts
Together, we can stop the cuts
What pathologists are telling their lawmakers before New Year's Eve
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
Healthcare leaders in rural communities are advocating for their patients, and why you should still advocate for pathology as the year winds down. Coming up next on the Path News Network. Welcome to the Path News Network Daily Edition, powered by the College of American Pathologists. Today is Tuesday, December 16th. I'm Brittani Riddle. Here's the latest news. With more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas, national health care groups are urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act. Rural clinicians report rising paperwork demands, delayed treatment, and increased burnout, with many saying insurer requirements hurt patient health. If passed, the bill would streamline approvals for doctor-authorized care under Medicare Advantage, helping seniors in rural communities get care faster. Do you still have questions about the Medicare fee final rule? Watch our on-demand video where CAP experts explain the rules and what they mean for pathologists. Follow the link in the show notes for more. Plans for CAP26 are already coming together. The annual pathologist meeting is happening in Las Vegas, October 3rd through 6th. Watch your inboxes in the coming weeks for registration details. Finally, there are a few days left in the legislative year to advocate on behalf of your specialty. In just 30 seconds, pathologists can hit send on a CAP action alert, urging lawmakers to protect laboratory medicine. Joining me today is Dr. Purvi Patel, a neuropathologist at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Illinois, to discuss why action alerts remain a critical advocacy tool. Dr. Patel, thank you so much for joining me today. Protecting the practice of pathology is an important function of CAP advocacy. What do your colleagues need to understand about being active?
So as pathologists, we know how essential our work is to patient care, but too often our role is invisible outside the lab. CAP advocacy exists to protect that role, whether it's defending fair reimbursement, making sure only qualified physicians practice pathology or pushing back against regulations that interfere with the patient care. The focus is how we make sure our voice is heard, like reforming Medicare payments, eliminating regulatory burdens, preventing payments, treating laboratory service and maintaining professionals. So being active doesn't mean we need to be on capital, flying to Washington every week. It can be as simple as staying informed. responding to CAP action standards, sending a quick note to our legislator, or educating our clinical colleagues and hospital leaders about the value of it. So that's why we should become active in advocacy.
I love that you talk about the importance of advocacy and how easy it is to really stay engaged. One of the tools we use to advocate are action alerts, which allows members to directly contact their lawmakers. For our members who haven't hit the send button just yet, how do action alerts make a difference?
Lawmakers listen to physicians from their own district and when many of us respond, each of us takes small steps and together we create a powerful collective message and unify the business. That policy makers can pay attention to it. Hitting that second button may feel small, but together those clicks shape real policy, protect our practice, and ultimately benefit our patients. Because the policies made today define how we practice tomorrow. Advocacy isn't optional anymore.
So how does the CAP's advocacy help improve access to newer diagnostic technologies and tests?
Yes, sure. So CAP uses far-fetched coverage and smart regulations so labs can adopt molecular, genomic, and digital tests, bringing innovation to patients first. So CAP advocacy plays a critical role in making sure patients have access to the latest diagnostic technologies. New tests like molecular assays, genomic profiling, or advanced imaging guided pathology or digital pathology often face barriers before they can reach to the patients. Those barriers may be regulatory, such as CMS coverage decisions or financial like reimbursement cuts that make it unsustainable for them.
That's all for today on the Path News Network Daily Edition. Thank you again to my guest, Dr. Patel, for joining me. You can find more about all of today's stories in the show notes and in our member newsletters on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We're back tomorrow at 5 a.m. Eastern Time. Have a wonderful day.
Description
December 16, 2025
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program - CY 2026
Rural health leaders push to improve MA prior authorization
Watch: How to send an action alert
Tell Congress to stop flawed Medicare payment cuts
Together, we can stop the cuts
What pathologists are telling their lawmakers before New Year's Eve
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
Healthcare leaders in rural communities are advocating for their patients, and why you should still advocate for pathology as the year winds down. Coming up next on the Path News Network. Welcome to the Path News Network Daily Edition, powered by the College of American Pathologists. Today is Tuesday, December 16th. I'm Brittani Riddle. Here's the latest news. With more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas, national health care groups are urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act. Rural clinicians report rising paperwork demands, delayed treatment, and increased burnout, with many saying insurer requirements hurt patient health. If passed, the bill would streamline approvals for doctor-authorized care under Medicare Advantage, helping seniors in rural communities get care faster. Do you still have questions about the Medicare fee final rule? Watch our on-demand video where CAP experts explain the rules and what they mean for pathologists. Follow the link in the show notes for more. Plans for CAP26 are already coming together. The annual pathologist meeting is happening in Las Vegas, October 3rd through 6th. Watch your inboxes in the coming weeks for registration details. Finally, there are a few days left in the legislative year to advocate on behalf of your specialty. In just 30 seconds, pathologists can hit send on a CAP action alert, urging lawmakers to protect laboratory medicine. Joining me today is Dr. Purvi Patel, a neuropathologist at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Illinois, to discuss why action alerts remain a critical advocacy tool. Dr. Patel, thank you so much for joining me today. Protecting the practice of pathology is an important function of CAP advocacy. What do your colleagues need to understand about being active?
So as pathologists, we know how essential our work is to patient care, but too often our role is invisible outside the lab. CAP advocacy exists to protect that role, whether it's defending fair reimbursement, making sure only qualified physicians practice pathology or pushing back against regulations that interfere with the patient care. The focus is how we make sure our voice is heard, like reforming Medicare payments, eliminating regulatory burdens, preventing payments, treating laboratory service and maintaining professionals. So being active doesn't mean we need to be on capital, flying to Washington every week. It can be as simple as staying informed. responding to CAP action standards, sending a quick note to our legislator, or educating our clinical colleagues and hospital leaders about the value of it. So that's why we should become active in advocacy.
I love that you talk about the importance of advocacy and how easy it is to really stay engaged. One of the tools we use to advocate are action alerts, which allows members to directly contact their lawmakers. For our members who haven't hit the send button just yet, how do action alerts make a difference?
Lawmakers listen to physicians from their own district and when many of us respond, each of us takes small steps and together we create a powerful collective message and unify the business. That policy makers can pay attention to it. Hitting that second button may feel small, but together those clicks shape real policy, protect our practice, and ultimately benefit our patients. Because the policies made today define how we practice tomorrow. Advocacy isn't optional anymore.
So how does the CAP's advocacy help improve access to newer diagnostic technologies and tests?
Yes, sure. So CAP uses far-fetched coverage and smart regulations so labs can adopt molecular, genomic, and digital tests, bringing innovation to patients first. So CAP advocacy plays a critical role in making sure patients have access to the latest diagnostic technologies. New tests like molecular assays, genomic profiling, or advanced imaging guided pathology or digital pathology often face barriers before they can reach to the patients. Those barriers may be regulatory, such as CMS coverage decisions or financial like reimbursement cuts that make it unsustainable for them.
That's all for today on the Path News Network Daily Edition. Thank you again to my guest, Dr. Patel, for joining me. You can find more about all of today's stories in the show notes and in our member newsletters on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We're back tomorrow at 5 a.m. Eastern Time. Have a wonderful day.
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Description
December 16, 2025
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program - CY 2026
Rural health leaders push to improve MA prior authorization
Watch: How to send an action alert
Tell Congress to stop flawed Medicare payment cuts
Together, we can stop the cuts
What pathologists are telling their lawmakers before New Year's Eve
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
Healthcare leaders in rural communities are advocating for their patients, and why you should still advocate for pathology as the year winds down. Coming up next on the Path News Network. Welcome to the Path News Network Daily Edition, powered by the College of American Pathologists. Today is Tuesday, December 16th. I'm Brittani Riddle. Here's the latest news. With more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas, national health care groups are urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act. Rural clinicians report rising paperwork demands, delayed treatment, and increased burnout, with many saying insurer requirements hurt patient health. If passed, the bill would streamline approvals for doctor-authorized care under Medicare Advantage, helping seniors in rural communities get care faster. Do you still have questions about the Medicare fee final rule? Watch our on-demand video where CAP experts explain the rules and what they mean for pathologists. Follow the link in the show notes for more. Plans for CAP26 are already coming together. The annual pathologist meeting is happening in Las Vegas, October 3rd through 6th. Watch your inboxes in the coming weeks for registration details. Finally, there are a few days left in the legislative year to advocate on behalf of your specialty. In just 30 seconds, pathologists can hit send on a CAP action alert, urging lawmakers to protect laboratory medicine. Joining me today is Dr. Purvi Patel, a neuropathologist at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Illinois, to discuss why action alerts remain a critical advocacy tool. Dr. Patel, thank you so much for joining me today. Protecting the practice of pathology is an important function of CAP advocacy. What do your colleagues need to understand about being active?
So as pathologists, we know how essential our work is to patient care, but too often our role is invisible outside the lab. CAP advocacy exists to protect that role, whether it's defending fair reimbursement, making sure only qualified physicians practice pathology or pushing back against regulations that interfere with the patient care. The focus is how we make sure our voice is heard, like reforming Medicare payments, eliminating regulatory burdens, preventing payments, treating laboratory service and maintaining professionals. So being active doesn't mean we need to be on capital, flying to Washington every week. It can be as simple as staying informed. responding to CAP action standards, sending a quick note to our legislator, or educating our clinical colleagues and hospital leaders about the value of it. So that's why we should become active in advocacy.
I love that you talk about the importance of advocacy and how easy it is to really stay engaged. One of the tools we use to advocate are action alerts, which allows members to directly contact their lawmakers. For our members who haven't hit the send button just yet, how do action alerts make a difference?
Lawmakers listen to physicians from their own district and when many of us respond, each of us takes small steps and together we create a powerful collective message and unify the business. That policy makers can pay attention to it. Hitting that second button may feel small, but together those clicks shape real policy, protect our practice, and ultimately benefit our patients. Because the policies made today define how we practice tomorrow. Advocacy isn't optional anymore.
So how does the CAP's advocacy help improve access to newer diagnostic technologies and tests?
Yes, sure. So CAP uses far-fetched coverage and smart regulations so labs can adopt molecular, genomic, and digital tests, bringing innovation to patients first. So CAP advocacy plays a critical role in making sure patients have access to the latest diagnostic technologies. New tests like molecular assays, genomic profiling, or advanced imaging guided pathology or digital pathology often face barriers before they can reach to the patients. Those barriers may be regulatory, such as CMS coverage decisions or financial like reimbursement cuts that make it unsustainable for them.
That's all for today on the Path News Network Daily Edition. Thank you again to my guest, Dr. Patel, for joining me. You can find more about all of today's stories in the show notes and in our member newsletters on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We're back tomorrow at 5 a.m. Eastern Time. Have a wonderful day.
Description
December 16, 2025
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program - CY 2026
Rural health leaders push to improve MA prior authorization
Watch: How to send an action alert
Tell Congress to stop flawed Medicare payment cuts
Together, we can stop the cuts
What pathologists are telling their lawmakers before New Year's Eve
Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
Healthcare leaders in rural communities are advocating for their patients, and why you should still advocate for pathology as the year winds down. Coming up next on the Path News Network. Welcome to the Path News Network Daily Edition, powered by the College of American Pathologists. Today is Tuesday, December 16th. I'm Brittani Riddle. Here's the latest news. With more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas, national health care groups are urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act. Rural clinicians report rising paperwork demands, delayed treatment, and increased burnout, with many saying insurer requirements hurt patient health. If passed, the bill would streamline approvals for doctor-authorized care under Medicare Advantage, helping seniors in rural communities get care faster. Do you still have questions about the Medicare fee final rule? Watch our on-demand video where CAP experts explain the rules and what they mean for pathologists. Follow the link in the show notes for more. Plans for CAP26 are already coming together. The annual pathologist meeting is happening in Las Vegas, October 3rd through 6th. Watch your inboxes in the coming weeks for registration details. Finally, there are a few days left in the legislative year to advocate on behalf of your specialty. In just 30 seconds, pathologists can hit send on a CAP action alert, urging lawmakers to protect laboratory medicine. Joining me today is Dr. Purvi Patel, a neuropathologist at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Illinois, to discuss why action alerts remain a critical advocacy tool. Dr. Patel, thank you so much for joining me today. Protecting the practice of pathology is an important function of CAP advocacy. What do your colleagues need to understand about being active?
So as pathologists, we know how essential our work is to patient care, but too often our role is invisible outside the lab. CAP advocacy exists to protect that role, whether it's defending fair reimbursement, making sure only qualified physicians practice pathology or pushing back against regulations that interfere with the patient care. The focus is how we make sure our voice is heard, like reforming Medicare payments, eliminating regulatory burdens, preventing payments, treating laboratory service and maintaining professionals. So being active doesn't mean we need to be on capital, flying to Washington every week. It can be as simple as staying informed. responding to CAP action standards, sending a quick note to our legislator, or educating our clinical colleagues and hospital leaders about the value of it. So that's why we should become active in advocacy.
I love that you talk about the importance of advocacy and how easy it is to really stay engaged. One of the tools we use to advocate are action alerts, which allows members to directly contact their lawmakers. For our members who haven't hit the send button just yet, how do action alerts make a difference?
Lawmakers listen to physicians from their own district and when many of us respond, each of us takes small steps and together we create a powerful collective message and unify the business. That policy makers can pay attention to it. Hitting that second button may feel small, but together those clicks shape real policy, protect our practice, and ultimately benefit our patients. Because the policies made today define how we practice tomorrow. Advocacy isn't optional anymore.
So how does the CAP's advocacy help improve access to newer diagnostic technologies and tests?
Yes, sure. So CAP uses far-fetched coverage and smart regulations so labs can adopt molecular, genomic, and digital tests, bringing innovation to patients first. So CAP advocacy plays a critical role in making sure patients have access to the latest diagnostic technologies. New tests like molecular assays, genomic profiling, or advanced imaging guided pathology or digital pathology often face barriers before they can reach to the patients. Those barriers may be regulatory, such as CMS coverage decisions or financial like reimbursement cuts that make it unsustainable for them.
That's all for today on the Path News Network Daily Edition. Thank you again to my guest, Dr. Patel, for joining me. You can find more about all of today's stories in the show notes and in our member newsletters on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We're back tomorrow at 5 a.m. Eastern Time. Have a wonderful day.
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