CSP DOC Challenge – Wednesday, May 14

At its March meeting, the CSP Board of Directors gave the go ahead to conduct a one-day fundraising activity to support CSP’s advocacy and legal efforts, which we are calling the CSP DOC Challenge (Day of Contributing).

The CSP DOC Challenge will be held Wednesday,

May 14. Our goal is to raise $100,000 in one day from members, non-members, practice groups and corporate partners.

CSP board members and other leaders have volunteered to serve as “champions” for individual member and partner segments to inform, engage and activate financial contributions from individuals, practice groups and corporate partners.

Dr. Brent Larson

TBD

TBD

Dr. Audrey McCloskey

Dr. Bill Yong, Dr. Steve Hart

Dr. Christopher Wixom

Mr. Gerrick Gonzales

Board of Directors and Committees

Past Presidents

CA CAP members

Residents

Academic Departments

Private Practice Groups

Corporate Partners

Champions will be asked to connect with individuals and leaders within their segment, between now and up to May 14. Their calls and emails will be focused on informing people of the date and purpose DOC Challenge, not a direct ask for money.

We will be promoting the DOC Challenge via email to CSP’s constant contact list and via social media, including Facebook, Instagram, X and Linked In. Please consider reposting to help amplify our efforts.

Where possible we plan to track participation rates and recognize the committees, departments, residency programs, etc. for achieving 75% plus and 100% participation

The purpose of the DOC Challenge is two-fold:

• To raise awareness of the valuable role that CSP plays in protecting and advancing the practice of pathology in California, informing members/partners of our many recent achievements
• To raise essential funds to support CSP’s advocacy efforts and legal defense fund – the core of CSP’s role as THE sole advocate for ALL pathologists in California

So please, mark your calendars for CSP’s DOC Challenge, Wednesday, May 14 and help us meet our goal of raising $100,000 in one day to support CSP’s advocacy and legal efforts!

Status of LA Care lawsuit

As you likely recall, CSP filed a lawsuit against LA Care (Luk/CSP v LA care), the MediCal provider for Los Angeles County, in an effort to overturn their policy of not paying for the professional component of pathology services, contrary to MediCal provisions and practice. Our research shows this policy is costing LA County based pathology groups a combined $750,000 a year or more in lost revenue.

Our settlement offer to LA Care was rejected earlier this year and we continue to prepare for bench trial, which is scheduled for May 21.

We are grateful to the many individuals, practice groups and organizations that have helped either contributed or committee approximately $100,000 in support of this effort. Please click here for a list of contributors to date.

That said, we still have additional funds to raise in order to continue to fund our legal efforts.

Briefing to LASOP Members

CSP President elect, Dr. Brent Larson and CSP legal counsel, Felicia Sze, briefed members of the Los Angeles Society of Pathologists (LASOP) on the status of the LA Care lawsuit on Tuesday, April 22 during one of LASOP’s monthly webinars. The briefing is part of CSP’s efforts to engage LASOP and other local pathology societies in California. CSP has agreed to provide LASOP with regular information on state advocacy activities. CSP and LASOP will also co-host the Welcome Reception kicking off CSP’s Annual Meeting in Long Beach, December 5-6.

Emily Ann Green, MD

President

California Society of Pathologists

Advocacy and Practice Management

Committee Priorities

After successfully sponsoring AB 2107 last year, a bill that authorized remote review of digital pathology slides, the Advocacy and Practice Management Committee is focused on a few priorities:

• Monitoring implementation of AB 2107 by the Department of Public Health;
• Developing information and resources to assist members in obtaining reimbursement for professional component of clinical pathology services;
• Engaging with the Prop 35 Advisory Committee to position pathology for increased MediCal reimbursement;
• Taking positions on legislation impacting pathology directly and medicine/healthcare in general. Below are just a few bill positions taken by the committee

2025 CSP Bill Positions

For a complete list of CSP bill positions, please click here. 

AB 304 (Chen) – SUPPORT

Requires the Department of Health Care Access and Information to create a grant program, for training programs approved by the State Department of Public Health. This bill aims to enhance training for clinical laboratory personnel.                 

AB 481 (Rubio) - SUPPORT

Modifies current laws governing clinical laboratory tests by permitting individuals to assist in moderate or high complexity testing, provided they meet federal regulations. It clarifies that supervision requires the licensed individual to be present and available at all times

SB 246 (Grove) - SUPPORT

Mandates additional Medi-Cal payments for district and municipal public hospitals to support graduate medical education (GME) costs.

SB 339 (Cabaldon) – SUPPORT

Modifies Medi-Cal reimbursement rules by excluding testing for sexually transmitted infections from the existing reimbursement cap calculations. Specifically, it removes the average reimbursement rate from the calculation while keeping other limits intact. Additionally, it mandates the public disclosure of de-identified raw data from laboratories reporting a significant volume of tests, improving transparency. The bill also eliminates a 10% payment reduction currently imposed on laboratory services.

If you have questions, please contact me directly at Anne.Deucher@ucsf.edu.

Anne M. Deucher, MD

Chair, Advocacy and Practice Management Committee

California Society of Pathologists

Membership

Renew Your membership by May 1!

May 1 is the last day to renew your membership dues

Those of you who have not yet renewed your dues for 2025, we encourage you to please do so no later than May 1, after which your active membership will be dropped. To renew your membership, please click here.

Discounted Membership for Graduating Residents/Fellows

Residents and Fellow graduating this spring should consider joining CSP at a special, discounted rate of $100 for the 2025-26 membership year. To join CSP as an Early Career member, please click here.

William H. Yong, MD

Secretary-Treasurer; Chair, Membership Committee

California Society of Pathologists