On June 22nd, members of AACC’s Policy & External Affairs Core Committee (PEACC) visited Capitol Hill to meet with their legislators and staff from 14 congressional offices to advocate for two of the association’s main legislative priorities: protecting access to laboratory developed test (LDTs) and securing funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve pediatric reference intervals (PRIs).

Supporters of the VALID Act, which would extend FDA oversight to LDTs on top of existing CLIA regulations, are working to include the bill in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). AACC strongly opposes the inclusion of VALID, which would be duplicative and costly for labs, and limit patient access to testing. During their meetings, PEACC members raised awareness about the impact this issue would have on the ability of their organizations to conduct cutting edge testing for the patient populations they serve.

The committee also talked to lawmakers and staff about the need to improve PRIs. AACC succeeded in securing report language the House of Representative’s fiscal year (FY) 2022 funding bill encouraging CDC to initiate efforts to improve the accuracy of pediatric reference intervals. The association previously secured report language in the FY 2020 budget agreement requesting that CDC submit a plan a plan to Congress for improving PRIs. PEACC members encouraged congressional offices to build on that support and secure funding for the effort in the FY24 budget. The association and its allies will continue to remain engaged with legislative offices on issues that impact the clinical laboratory community.