Pathology News Roundup: February 2026

CAP Supports Bill to Pause Medicare Payment Cuts. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) is urging Congress to pass the Efficiency Adjustment Delay Act (H.R. 7520), bipartisan legislation that would delay CMS’s recently implemented “efficiency adjustment” policy through 2030. The policy, which took effect January 1, 2026, imposes a 2.5 percent across-the-board reduction to work Relative Value Units (RVUs) for non-time-based services — directly affecting pathology services and physician compensation.

CMS based the reduction on the assumption that physician services become more efficient over time. However, CAP and more than 20 medical organizations argue the policy relies on limited data that does not adequately reflect pathology-specific services. Recent peer-reviewed research analyzing more than 1.7 million operations found that 90 percent of CPT codes had the same or longer operative times in recent years, contradicting the premise of increasing efficiency.

For pathology practices already facing workforce shortages, rising costs, and growing regulatory demands, recurring RVU reductions could create significant financial instability. The proposed legislation would require CMS to reassess the evidence behind the policy and develop a more data-driven approach that protects physician compensation and preserves patient access to high-quality diagnostic care.

What We’re Listening To: CIPI Connections Podcast. If pathology informatics isn’t part of your daily routine, the CIPI Connections podcast is an easy and entertaining way to stay in the loop. Launched last August by the CAP Council on Informatics and Pathology Innovation (CIPI), the short, 20-minute episodes are designed to make emerging technology and data standards more practical and more approachable for working pathologists.

Led by M. E. de Baca, MD, the CIPI chair and vice president for medical affairs at Sysmex America, the series highlights innovators and thought leaders shaping the future of the specialty. Recent episodes have featured conversations with leaders such as Rajendra Singh, MD, founder of PathPresenter (a Voicebrook digital pathology partner) along with discussions on AI, digital pathology, electronic reporting, and data standards.

The goal? To give pathologists an accessible entry point into the technologies and ideas transforming diagnostic practice, and to spark new ways of thinking about innovation, efficiency, and patient care. Episodes are available on major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as the CAP website, with more slated through 2026.

Pathologists Leadership Summit 2026. A strong voice can shape the future of pathology, and April 25–28 is your chance to make yours heard. The CAP House of Delegates & Pathologists Leadership Summit 2026 will bring pathologists to Washington, DC, for four days of advocacy, leadership development, and direct engagement on Capitol Hill. Registration is open now.

This year’s program goes beyond policy updates. Attendees will strengthen their ability to negotiate with health system C-suite leaders, tackle real-world practice challenges, and explore how emerging technologies and AI intersect with reimbursement realities. Sessions will cover Medicare payment reform, workforce pressures, and regulatory priorities, along with practical guidance on delivering CAP’s message to lawmakers during Hill Day on April 28.

Hill Day gives participants the opportunity to meet directly with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for sustainable reimbursement, improvements to the local coverage determination process, and long-term solutions to flawed Medicare payment policies. With dedicated CAP advocacy staff providing support throughout the day, pathologists can confidently help shape the policies that protect patient care and the future of the specialty.