RESULTS Act Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act of 2025
Impact
If enacted, HB 5269 would have a considerable impact on how diagnostic laboratory tests are reimbursed under Medicare. By enforcing a more stringent data collection requirement, it seeks to create a more reliable fee schedule based on actual market rates, which could lead to more accurate reimbursements for laboratory services. The changes are aimed at ensuring that both widely available and non-widely available non-ADLT (advanced diagnostic laboratory test) clinical diagnostic laboratory tests are adequately funded based on up-to-date financial information from the market.
Summary
House Bill 5269, titled the 'Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services Act of 2025' (RESULTS Act), seeks to amend the Social Security Act to ensure long-term stability in Medicare beneficiary access to clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. The bill aims to enhance the accuracy and feasibility of data collection used to determine private payor-based fee schedule payment rates. A significant change proposed in the bill includes updating the data collection period for reporting these payment rates from 2019 to 2027, thereby extending the timeline for reporting accuracy enhancements.
Contention
Despite the potential benefits, there are points of contention associated with the bill. Critics may argue that the changes could lead to unintended consequences for smaller laboratories that might struggle to meet the new data requirements or face financial pressures from adjusted payment rates. Opponents may also express concerns over the increased complexity in Medicare billing and the potential barrier that heightened data reporting could pose for some providers, potentially leading to access issues for patients needing laboratory services.