Laboratory professionals have a choice to make: either be active and effective participants in the legislative and regulatory process, or potentially end up as an afterthought as enormous change occurs in the federal government. For maximum effectiveness, laboratory professionals need sharply defined understanding of the issues and the legislative and regulatory processes as well as clear-eyed perspectives on the consequences of inaction.
This presentation will provide a briefing on the current advocacy environment in Washington and how it will impact our community's issues like laboratory reimbursement, regulation of laboratory developed tests, and the laboratory workforce.
An inside look at how government really works will be discussed as well as what is required to be effective “labvocates.”
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss significant federal legislative and regulatory issues affecting or that may affect clinical laboratories and medical laboratory professionals, including workforce, reimbursement and testing regulation.
- Recognize how the dynamics of the current political environment and the approaching mid-term elections will influence those issues.
- Use the knowledge of issues and institutional structures to develop the most effective advocacy approach.
