Following recent legislative actions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has confirmed that the reporting of private payer data under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) will also be postponed until 2026, alongside the delay of reimbursement cuts. Originally scheduled to begin in 2025, the reporting requirements were part of the policy aimed at aligning Medicare payments with private market rates for clinical diagnostic tests.
With both the reimbursement cuts and reporting requirements delayed, laboratories now have additional time to prepare for the eventual compliance mandates tied to PAMA. This extension provides short-term relief for labs while underscoring the need for permanent PAMA reform—an issue that remains a priority for industry advocates and stakeholders.
APS Medical Billing will continue to monitor regulatory updates and provide timely information to assist our clients in navigating these changes effectively.
