Pathology News Roundup: May 2026

CAP Membership Hits Record High. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has reached a major milestone, surpassing 20,000 total members for the first time in its history. CAP president Qihui "Jim" Zhai, MD, FCAP, highlighted the significance of this achievement in a recent issue of CAP TODAY. Dr. Zhai calls this not just an organizational win, but a boost to the CAP's advocacy power on behalf of the entire pathology profession. With greater membership comes greater influence in Washington, DC, he says, particularly through PathPAC. PathPAC is the CAP's unique federal policy advocacy arm, which works to ensure pathologists have a unified voice with elected officials on issues ranging from reimbursement cuts to complex regulatory challenges.

Dr. Zhai also pointed to several recent advocacy victories, including persuading Medicare to cover genetic and molecular diagnostic tests for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, excluding pathology time-based codes from an efficiency adjustment policy, and defeating a Medicare coverage policy that had limited testing for breast, lung, and prostate cancer. Dr. Zhai encouraged all pathologists who have not yet joined to consider doing so, noting that CAP membership unlocks leadership, committee, and networking opportunities — and that collective participation is what gives the profession its clout.

Medicare Payment Stability. The CAP is calling on Congress to take action to stabilize Medicare reimbursement for pathology services, submitting a formal statement for the record at a House committee hearing on physician payment. The statement underscored a troubling trend: 71 percent of pathology leaders have reported that ongoing payment cuts have negatively impacted practice revenue and staffing. The CAP stressed that accurate diagnosis is a critical patient care outcome and must be adequately recognized and compensated within Medicare quality programs.

Among its key asks, the CAP urged Congress to extend the 2.5 percent Medicare payment adjustment beyond 2026 until permanent reforms can be enacted. The statement also raised concerns about widening gaps between rising practice costs and declining reimbursement rates, as well as payment policies — such as the efficiency adjustment — that fail to reflect the increasing workload and complexity demands placed on pathologists. 

What We're Reading: "Change the System, Not the Women." A compelling opinion piece published in The Pathologist magazine is generating conversation in the pathology community. Three women leaders in the field present a candid roadmap for achieving gender equity in the lab and beyond. The title "Change the System, Not the Women" says it all: rather than asking women to adapt to a system not designed with them in mind, the authors argue the system itself needs to change. The piece tackles structural barriers that continue to affect women's advancement in pathology and offers concrete recommendations for leaders and institutions looking to make meaningful progress.

This is a timely and important read for anyone invested in building a more inclusive profession. You can find the full article in the May 2026 issue of The Pathologist.