Bill 118 hr 1835, also known as the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to address concerns regarding access to laboratory services for Medicare beneficiaries.
The bill aims to prevent significant cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates for laboratory services that were scheduled to take effect in 2022. These cuts were originally put in place as part of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, but many in the healthcare industry have raised concerns that these cuts would have a negative impact on access to essential laboratory services for Medicare beneficiaries.
If passed, the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act would delay these cuts and provide a more gradual phase-in of the reimbursement rate reductions. This would give laboratories more time to adjust to the changes and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to have access to the necessary laboratory services they need.
Overall, the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act is aimed at ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries have continued access to high-quality laboratory services without facing significant disruptions due to reimbursement rate cuts. It is an important piece of legislation that seeks to protect the healthcare needs of older Americans.