December 2024

ASCP has been advocating for Medicare payment reform for years. The Medicare fee schedules paying for the services provided by pathologists and medical laboratory professionals urgently need it.

Consider these facts:

• Medicare payment for physician services has fallen approximately 26 percent since 2001.
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed its fifth straight cuts in physician payment rates this year.
• CMS is proposing to cut laboratory payment rates up to 15 percent next year for approximately 800 laboratory tests—after three consecutive years (2018-2020) of cuts of up to 10 percent per test.

Given that private insurers benchmark their payment rates to Medicare’s fee schedules, the need for reform is urgent.

Medicare’s current rates are unsustainable; they undermine the ability of pathologists, laboratory professionals, and other providers to provide quality patient care. These low rates also complicate efforts to recruit and retain staff. So far, Congress has not addressed the root of the problem—the payment system itself. This needs to change.

How you can help

ASCP is working with the American Medical Association, the American Clinical Laboratory Association, and other professional societies to address Medicare’s flawed payment policies. We need your help to get Congress to make the changes that are needed. We urge YOU to use ASCP’s e-Advocacy Center to tell Congress to Fix Medicare Payment Systems.

Please use ASCP’s eAdvocacy Center by clicking here.

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a news release regarding the final rule for the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) model. The model seeks to increase patient access to kidney transplantation through a series of financial incentives and disincentives to participating kidney transplant programs. The news release also addresses revisions the agency made in response to public comments, including a comment submitted by the OPTN.

Audience:  

• OPTN member representatives and alternate representatives
• Transplant program directors and administrators
• OPO chief executive officers, medical directors and procurement directors
• Histocompatibility lab directors and supervisors
• OPTN Board of Directors and committee members

Please share this notice with anyone in your organization who would benefit from it.

Questions or comments about the content of this email? UNOS wants to hear from you.

Additional questions

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Share pictures and videos of your team wearing holiday gear, showing off your festive lab decorations, or any other cheerful celebrations happening in your laboratory. We'll post it to ASHI's social media pages to spread joy together this season.

Submit your entries today by emailing info@ashi-hla.org.

Our Popular Holiday Print is Back!

With the help of the ASHI community, we built a virtual mosaic to commemorate ASHI's 50th Annual Meeting!



Now it's available to wear or display!

ASHI University Prices are Changing - Unlock Unlimited Access with an ASHI Membership

Starting January 1, 2025, ASHI University modules will cost $45 each. However, did you know that ASHI members receive unlimited access to all ASHI U modules?

With the new price of $45 per module, obtaining an ASHI membership is the sensible choice for frequent learners and teams. Membership not only provides access to ASHI U at no additional cost but also unlocks exclusive resources and benefits to support your growth in histocompatibility and immunogenetics.

Why settle for just one module at $45 when an ASHI membership gives you access to everything? Join ASHI today and maximize your educational opportunities!

2025 ASHI Membership Renewal is Open!

Don't let your membership lapse on December 31, 2024. ASHI memberships operate on a calendar year and renewal season is here. Keep the momentum going! Renewing for 2025 is a breeze! Log-in to the ASHI website, update your profile, and renew with just a few clicks by submitting payment via credit card or by printing an invoice to mail us a check. Click here for a short tutorial on renewing your membership.

Ready to renew? First, see if you are eligible for one of our ASHI discount programs.

Hosted by the Educational Initiatives Committee

Join us for an exciting webinar, led by Christian Torres-Cotty and moderated by Dr. Ahmed Mostafa. This session will explore how the innovative AI tool HLAssistant, integrated with ChatGPT, is transforming learning in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) education and professional certification preparation.

Discover the creation, objectives, and key features of HLAssistant, and how it offers personalized learning, interactive support, and troubleshooting for professionals in the field. The webinar will also look at real-world applications and discuss the future of AI in transplant immunology.

Learning Objectives

• Describe HLAssistant's creation and integration with ChatGPT.
• Identify AI's role in HLA education and certification preparation.
• Understand how HLAssistant personalizes learning experiences.
• Explore AI's potential future in transplant immunology.

A live Q&A will follow, where participants can ask questions about AI technology's impact on healthcare and laboratory science. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how AI can enhance your professional development! Register today!

Click here to register

Hosted by the Technologists' Affairs Committee

The presentation will review the 10 most frequently cited deficiencies and discuss how technologists can support their laboratories compliance with ASHI Standards. Attendees will earn 1.0 contact hours or .015 CECs!

Click here to register

Each year, the committee Chairs and Program Directors give a brief update on their goals and upcoming initiatives. Click here to view a recording of the 2024 committee report updates.

Coffee & Compatibility

CMS, FDA, and VALID Act...Oh, My! Where Are We Now?

Coffee & Compatibility went LIVE at the ASHI 50th Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California! In this exciting episode, Dr. Annette Jackson, Rebecca Upchurch, and Dr. Anne Halpin dive into the evolving regulatory landscape and discuss its impact on your lab operations. The panel also addressed insightful questions from the live audience, making this a must-watch (or listen) for anyone navigating today’s challenges in histocompatibility and transplantation.

Missed the live event? Don’t worry! You can catch the episode on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Stay informed, stay connected—Coffee & Compatibility has you covered!

VXM-2 Optional Challenge

Within the next few weeks, AC-2 participants will receive emails with instructions and links for participating in the optional, educational VXM-2 challenge.

2024 Reports: EMO-2, HT-2, AC-2

PT results have been submitted for all 2024 surveys. Laboratories that participated will be notified by email upon completion of the EMO-2, HT-2, and AC-2 reports.

2025 Ordering Deadline Extended

Deadlines for placing 2025 PT orders in the PT Data Center have been extended to December 12 for U.S. laboratories and January 25 for international laboratories. Labs new to ASHI can email the PT Program Manager for more information at chartman@ashi-hla.org. Please review the 2025 PT brochure and 2025 shipment schedule before ordering.

The Science and Technology Initiatives Committee (STIC) is pleased to announce a new initiative to promote relevant external research funding opportunities within the ASHI community. We hope to spark the translation of your scientific ideas into productive, funded research projects that advance knowledge in immunogenetics, histocompatibility, and transplantation biology. Requests for applications (RFAs) will be highlighted routinely as new opportunities are announced. Highlighted grants will span all eligible career levels, as well as basic, translational, and clinical science.

Click here to view the opportunities!

ASHI Member Spotlight

"Learning the HLA Lab's important role...adds a deeper meaning to the miracle of donation."

Check out our featured member spotlight, Sharyn Sawczak! Read More

Would you like to be featured as our next ASHI Member or Volunteer Spotlight? Click the links below to answer a few questions about your member/volunteer experience. For more information, or if you would like to nominate someone to be highlighted as our next spotlight, contact Cathy Landolt at clandolt@ashi-hla.org.