February 17, 2023 – Perhaps a different SALSA and CHIPs that you had in mind, based on the headline? In this case, it’s about the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) and potential changes coming to its implementation based on new legislation proposed on July 22, 2022, by Richard Burr, Republican Senator of North Carolina. The catchy acronym for this proposed law is SALSA (Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act).
Overall, the SALSA act proposed several changes to PAMA implementation intended to lessen the impact of PAMA in the future. How does CHIP fit in? CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Plan) is one of the beneficiary groups covered by the Clinical Lab Fee Schedule (CLFS). In summary, any changes to the CLFS impact the reimbursement paid to laboratories for tests performed for beneficiaries of Medicare and other federally funded health care programs.
Spoiler alert: there is important information to follow, but the key elements of the SALSA bill have been incorporated into the 117th Congress’ budget act (H.R. 2617) right before its recess. This is a significant step forward for all laboratories as well as the U.S. healthcare system overall. It will also impact how distributors and our key lab manufacturing partners message our lab customers in the coming years.
Read more in the latest issue of Repertoire Magazine.