PAMA Reporting for Labs
The Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) revised the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) by requiring CMS to set payment rates based on private payer data reported by applicable laboratories.
The RESULTS Act
PAMA Reform
On February 3, 2026, Congress enacted, and the President signed into law, short‑term relief legislation under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA). The legislation delays scheduled Medicare payment rate reductions for one year and resets the next private payer data collection period to January–July 2025, with reporting required beginning in May 2026.
This statutory action provides temporary relief from Medicare payment reductions affecting clinical laboratory services and supports continued beneficiary access to diagnostic testing. Long‑term payment stability will require legislative action to address structural issues through enactment of the Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act.
Blog
Short-Term PAMA Relief: What Labs Must Do & Why Long-Term Reform Matters
The 2026 PAMA reporting cycle is approaching quickly, and labs that prepare now will be best positioned to ensure compliance, protect reimbursement, and avoid operational disruption. And, Long‑term CLFS stability still depends on continued momentum behind the RESULTS Act, which aims to address PAMA’s structural issues and safeguard diagnostic innovation.
Staying proactive today helps labs build a more predictable, sustainable future for Medicare rate setting.
On-Demand Webinar
What New PAMA Requirements Means for Labs
With Congress passing short‑term PAMA relief, labs gain a one‑year delay on Medicare CLFS cuts and a reset of the next private payer data collection period. But these changes also shift reporting expectations and accelerate preparation for the 2025 data cycle.
Stream the on-demand webinar with ACLA President Susan Van Meter and ACLA General Counsel Joyce Gresko as they break down what the updated legislation means for reimbursement, reporting responsibilities, and the future of Medicare rate‑setting.