Washington, DC (July 27, 2026) — The College of American Pathologists (CAP) is calling attention to the bipartisan Patients First Act, legislation introduced by Reps. John Joyce, MD (R-PA), Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), and Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), to reform Medicare’s physician payment and quality programs.
Meaningful reform of the Medicare physician payment and quality system is urgently needed as pathologists face growing financial pressures that negatively affect patient access to vital diagnostic services, which are foundational to the nation’s health care system. With additional cuts to pathology reimbursement proposed in the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the ongoing impact of budget neutrality and efficiency adjustments, and pending reductions to the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, pathology practices continue to face significant challenges that threaten patient access to care.
“The CAP appreciates the leadership of Reps. Joyce, Murphy, and Schrier in introducing the bipartisan Patients First Act and the open and iterative stakeholder process that shaped this legislation,” said CAP President Qihui “Jim” Zhai, MD, FCAP. “We are grateful that the sponsors incorporated CAP feedback into the Patients First Act, including provisions that would give pathologists greater ownership over the development and application of quality measures that reflect the value and role of pathologists in the health care ecosystem.”
The legislation would transform the quality program under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and give pathologists a greater role in developing and applying quality measures used to evaluate the specialty under Medicare.
The bill would eliminate existing restrictions that prohibit pathologists from developing measures that reflect the outcomes of their work and the care and services they provide to patients and other physicians. It would give pathologists a role in creating measures applicable to pathology. Additionally, approved measures would remain on a list of applicable measures for use by pathologists until pathologists and those with whom they work closely determine when, if, and what measures should be removed.
The bill also includes language for which the CAP advocated, recognizing that pathology-specific measures can be submitted through multiple mechanisms, including Qualified Clinical Data Registries (QCDRs), administrative data, and billing claims, which is an acknowledgement of the systems pathologists use in their laboratories.
“We look forward to reviewing the bill further and continuing our work with the sponsors and Congress on this legislation,” Dr. Zhai said. “Until permanent reforms are enacted, Congress must continue to provide positive annual physician payment updates, prevent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing policies in the proposed rule that devalue the work pathologists do and threaten patient access to necessary cancer diagnostic testing, and move broader reforms that give physicians the resources they need to care for their patients and maintain access to high-quality care in communities across the country.”
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About the College of American Pathologists
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, visit the CAP Newsroom, CAP.org and yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care.