If you follow digital pathology (whole slide imaging) at CMS, you'll know that Medicare place around ten WSI tests on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule through 2004. Then, AMA CPT stopped making new PLA codes for WSI.
Then, beginning in February 2026, AMA CPT has created at least four new Category III codes for WSI tests. (AMA will release the full text on July 1, 2026).
However, CMS declined to add the four Category III WSI codes to the agenda of the June public comment meeting on some 100 other new CPT codes for lab tests.
Here's the remark CMS gave at the opening of the June 10 meeting:
- Finally, we are aware there are a few CPT codes that were recently established but are not reflected on today's agenda for presentation. We've received some incoming letters and questions on these codes.
- We are reviewing these concerns, and we hope to have additional information soon.
- But for today, the agenda is set, and those codes will not be discussed to the public and the panel. Again, we sincerely appreciate your invaluable contributions of professional expertise and experience to this public process behind the clinical laboratory fee schedule.
But wait, there's more. This week, Congress released the text of HR 8890, CLIA Reform 2026. It would FIRMLY establish digital pathology / computational pathology as CLIA lab tests. This should lock down their position on the Clinical Lab Fee Schedule - assuming HR 8890 passes into law.
Read more about HR 8890 on this blog here.
