Congress Asks CMS to Delay PAMA Implementation

Forty-four members of Congress signed a letter sent Dec. 16, 2015, to Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expressing concern “that laboratories will be unable to comply with the proposed implementation timeline.” The letter notes rulemaking delays leave labs little time to prepare to report “upwards of millions of data points based on a yet-to-bereleased set of agency requirements.” It also said proteins should be included in the criteria defining Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Tests and the number of labs reporting should be “more inclusive” and “allow any laboratory to voluntarily report.” The American Clinical Laboratory Association praised the letter for its bipartisan nature and the commitment to “ensuring a smooth PAMA implementation.”