While some remain concerned that the bill will reduce labs' leverage with payors, provisions like the use of arbitration for disputes are a win for providers.
Some insiders emphasize the importance of doing rapid turnaround testing of asymptomatic people, while others contend lab tests ought to be the modality of choice.
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.
If the lateral flow assay receives US regulatory approval, it would be the first antigen test for use in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.
Federal mandates requiring frequent SARS-CoV-2 testing for nursing home employees and significant purchases of rapid antigen tests from HHS have raised concerns about capacity.
