Policymakers, Patient Advocates, and Clinical Laboratory Leaders Discuss the Future of Clinical Laboratory Testing at ACLA's 23rd Annual Meeting

(Washington, D.C.), March 06, 2018 --  The American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) today held its 2018 annual meeting, convening policymakers, patient advocates, payers and industry leaders to discuss the future of clinical laboratory testing. The annual conference, now in its twenty-third year, is the premier meeting in Washington for the clinical lab community that brings national leaders in the diagnostic sector together with lawmakers and administration officials to discuss the latest federal legislative and regulatory policy issues concerning clinical laboratories.

“The ACLA’s annual meeting provides an opportunity for the nation’s leaders in the laboratory sector to discuss pressing issues regarding diagnostics and patient care,” said Julie Khani, President of the ACLA. “We are pleased to lead today’s discussion on the future of diagnostic testing and showcase clinical laboratories’ contributions towards innovative healthcare solutions that drive better outcomes and deliver higher quality patient care.”

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D delivered remarks at the morning session, preceded by Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) who opened the meeting with an update on Congress’ healthcare policy priorities. Rep. DeGette serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and was instrumental in passing the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act. Together with Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), she is the co-author of the Diagnostic Accuracy and Innovation Act (DAIA) discussion draft which would establish a comprehensive framework for the regulation of diagnostics, including laboratory developed tests and in vitro diagnostics.

Former U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt delivered the keynote address, lending his insight into the current health policy discussion and what it means for the clinical laboratory sector. The former three-term governor of Utah and cabinet secretary under President George W. Bush shared his experience leading the nation’s health policy agenda as HHS Secretary and offered his thoughts on where the future might be headed. Leavitt is currently the founder and chairman of Leavitt Partners. 

ACLA chairman, Curtis Hanson, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Mayo Medical Laboratories, was among the speakers representing the laboratory community, which also included laboratory panelists from DaVita Labs, Quest Diagnostics, ARUP Laboratories, and Sonic Healthcare.  Among panel discussions, representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and the Association of Public Health Laboratories discussed the role of clinical laboratories in public health preparedness; while law firms, Alston & Bird LLP and Mintz Levin joined discussions on enforcement and compliance issues. Rounding out the meeting, Medicare contractor and private insurance trends were reviewed by representatives from Aetna, Anthem, Palmetto GBA, the Society for Women’s Health Research and ADVI.

To access the full agenda for ACLA’s annual conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, click here.

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ACLA is a not-for-profit association representing the nation’s leading clinical and anatomic pathology laboratories, including national, regional, specialty, ESRD, hospital and nursing home laboratories. The clinical laboratory industry employs nearly 277,000 people directly and generates over 115,000 additional jobs in supplier industries. Clinical laboratories are at the forefront of personalized medicine, driving diagnostic innovation and contributing more than $100 billion to the nation’s economy.

Rebecca Reid
American Clinical Laboratory Association
410-212-3843
[email protected]