While the reforms ease some providers' shift to value-based care, their exclusion of labs could hamper the industry's move into population health and other areas.
At ACLA's annual meeting, a panel discussed how machine learning, artificial intelligence, telehealth, and at-home testing have gained traction throughout the laboratory industry.
The administration has proposed steps such as funding increased production of testing supplies and ensuring schools have access to more frequent testing.
The instructions reverse an FDA decision to stop reviewing LDTs, but questions remain about how broadly they will be applied and how they will be implemented.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the highest priority for most, but laboratory organizations are also looking ahead with longer-term goals for the new presidency.
CMS will now only reimburse labs performing high-throughput COVID-19 testing at the highest payment rate if they complete testing within two days of specimen collection.
Saying pooled testing for coronavirus was not for diagnostic purposes, Cigna had said it wouldn't reimburse for the method, but it plans to change its policy.
