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Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Protect Seniors' Access to Essential Laboratory Services

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Representatives Scott Peters, Richard Hudson, Gus Bilirakis, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Raja Krishnamoorthi, along with Senators Thom Tillis and Raphael Warnock, have introduced the Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting seniors' access to essential laboratory services. The bill seeks to address the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule payment cuts, which are set to begin in January 2026, and threaten access to common lab tests for America's seniors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The RESULTS Act aims to protect seniors' access to essential laboratory services by providing a sustainable fix to the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule payment cuts.
  • The legislation ensures a Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule rate-setting process that is accurate and representative of commercial market rates for independent, physician-office and hospital outreach laboratories.
  • The bill reduces the administrative data collection and reporting burden on clinical laboratories and lessens the administrative burden on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) while preventing destabilizing payment cuts and mitigating future reductions.
  • The RESULTS Act promotes diagnostic innovation by providing stability in Medicare reimbursement for laboratories to develop and deliver cutting-edge tests for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and emerging public health threats.
  • Clinical laboratory services are essential for patients, providing crucial information about their underlying health and guiding clinicians in patient care.
  • The bill has the support of national stakeholder groups representing millions of patients and providers, including the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) and the National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA).
  • Without congressional action, reimbursement for approximately 800 tests, including routine bloodwork, cancer screenings, and tests to manage heart disease and diabetes, will be cut by up to 15 percent beginning January 1, 2026.

Statistics:

  • 800 tests are at risk of being cut by up to 15 percent under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule payment cuts.
  • The RESULTS Act aims to prevent destabilizing payment cuts and mitigate future reductions in Medicare reimbursement for clinical laboratories.
  • 70 co-sponsors in the House and Senate had signed on to the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) in the previous Congress.
  • The bill has the support of dozens of national stakeholder groups representing millions of patients and providers.

Sources:

  • Rep. Scott Peters press release
  • American Clinical Laboratory Association
  • National Independent Laboratory Association
  • https://scottpeters.house.gov/2025/9/rep-peters-leads-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-protect-seniors-access-to-laboratory-testing

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