Friday, April 18, 2025

CMS Announces Summer 2025 Lab Pricing Meetings (June 27; July 23-24)

CMS has announced plans for this summer's new lab test pricing meetings.  The public comment meeting will be June 27, 2025, 10am-4pm ET.  It will  be a hybrid meeting (in person + zoom).  

The complementary Expert Advisors panel will meet in hybrid fashion on July 23-24, 10am-4pm ET.  (They move fast and likely finish early).  

See Fed Reg here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2025-06756/hearings-meetings-proceedings-etc-medicare-program-new-and-reconsidered-clinical-diagnostic

and here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2025-06758/hearings-meetings-proceedings-etc-medicare-program-medicare-advisory-panel-on-clinical-diagnostic

Also track the meeting announcement section on this CMS webpage [may be updated slower]:

https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/clinical-laboratory-fee-schedule-clfs/annual-public-meetings

And the expert advisors web page (see "Meetings")

https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/clinical-laboratory-fee-schedule-clfs/clfs-advisory-panel

Notes

  • See registration dates in the notices (for the public meeting, register May 1 -29; submit presentations by May 29).
  • Historically, even ten years ago, anyone wanting to enter CMS and is NOT a US national had special elaborate weeks-in-advance procedures.  FYI only.
  • I had noted that HHS instructed agencies to minimize public comment wherever possible, and, the PAMA act for lab pricing only requires CMS to "consult" an expert panel, not specifically to hold a public meeting. 
    • It's nice to see the public meeting is planned as in the past.
  • For this national meeting, thanks to CMS for starting at 10 ET / 7 PT rather than 8 ET which is 5am PT.
  • Check CMS for updated PPT templates.