As I work with Medicare seniors in Pennsylvania, I am concerned about prospective cuts to clinical lab services.
In January 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is scheduled to cut rates for nearly 600 tests, including the top 25 most used by seniors — threatening access to testing and making it more challenging for seniors to manage their health.
Amid a global pandemic, ensuring all patients maintain access to diagnostic care must be a top priority, especially as the CDC finds that nearly 4 in 10 adults reported avoiding or delaying medical care because of covid-19 related concerns.
Worse, these cuts hit the most vulnerable in our community. These lab tests are critical for any senior managing liver disease, cancer, diabetes or other illness.
It’s time for Congress to take action against the harmful Medicare lab cuts facing seniors in the Pittsburgh region and across the state. Seniors were made a promise that their Medicare benefits would be there, and it’s time for policymakers to protect that care now and in the future.
Suzanna Masartis
South Shore
The writer is executive director of the Community Liver Alliance.