ACLA: American Clinical Laboratory Association

Press Release: Senate HELP Committee Accepts Amendment to Enhance Prevention and Wellness (June 30, 2009)

ACLA Comments on House Tri-Committee Health Reform Discussion Draft (June 30, 2009)

Press Advisory: ACLA Announces Five New Members--Membership at All Time High (June 18, 2009)

ACLA Responds to Article in Washington Post on Utilization (June 9, 2009)

Press Release: ACLA Supports "Patient Access to Clinical Lab Tests Act" (June 10, 2009)

Clinical Laboratory CoPays Will Reduce Access and Harm Beneficiaries FACT SHEET (May 22, 2009)

ACLA and Lab Community Write Letter to Secretary Sebelius Communicating the Need for Regulatory Balance in Genetic and Molecular Testing (April 29, 2009) Letter; Press Release

ACLA Comments to Senate Finance Committee on Health Care Coverage Proposal (May 20, 2009); ACLA Commentts on Financing Health Reform (May 27, 2009)

ACLA Health Reform Goals and Proposed Action; ACLA Proposal to Promote Wellness and Prevention

Letter of Support to Congresswoman Wasserman Szhultz for her Bill (March 31, 2009)

Sample Letter to Your Member of Congress Asking Them to Co-Sponsor the Date of Service Bill HR 1699

Implications of Certain Arrangements for Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH) Testing, March 26, 2009

ACLA Supports "Patient Access to Critical Lab Tests Act"-- ACLA Press Release; Congressman Altmire's Release

ACLA Recommends OIG & CMS Withdraw EHR Safe Harbor (March 19, 2009)

ACLA Nominations for Health IT Committees (March 17, 2009): Alan Mertz; Ken McCaslin

ACLA's Prinicples for Health Reform (March 13, 2009)

Editorial From Nature-Biotechnology on Genentech's Citizen Petition (March 12, 2009)

Press Release: Upcoming World Kidney Day Underscores Role of Low-Cost Lab Tests in Combating High-Cost Kidney Disease (March 10, 2009)

ACLA Testifies Before NCVHS on Standards Adoption (February 24, 2009)

ACLA Submission to National Government Services on Their Draft LCD for Vitamin D: Cover Letter; Vitamin D Indications and Limitations of Coverage ; ICDs and Supporting References

ACLA Submits Full Response to Genentech's Citizen Petition (February 18, 2009); Press Release; Full Response

ACLA Responds to Washington Post Article by Patrick Swayze " I'm Battling Cancer. How About Some Help, Congress?" (February 10, 2009)

ACLA Comments to MEDCAC on Genomic Testing (January 29, 2009)

ACLA’s Concerns Regarding Privacy Provisions of the House and Senate Stimulus Packages (January 26, 2009)

ACLA submits Letter to the Editor New York Times in response to front page article - see Patients DNA May Be Signal to Tailor Medication (December 30, 2008)

ACLA Comments to FDA on IVDMIA Revised Draft Guidance (December 19, 2009)

ACLA Responds - Genentech Citizen's Petition (December 19, 2008)

ACLA Principles for Oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests (November 14, 2008)

ACLA Announces New Associate Membership (November 14, 2008)

The Clinical Laboratory Industry's Advocate

The American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) is the clinical laboratory industry's leading advocate providing effective communication with Congress, regulatory bodies, other health care organizations and the public.

A not-for-profit association, ACLA represents the nation's leading national and regional clinical laboratories on key issues of common concern, including federal and state government reimbursement and regulatory policies. We have established relationships with key entities and individuals throughout government with responsibility for regulation of the clinical laboratory industry and payment for laboratory services. Find out more...

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

ACLA welcomes Aurora Diagnostics, Inc. as a new member.

Aurora Diagnostics, Inc, was founded in 2006 as a platform for the acquisition and integration of anatomic pathology and other diagnostic laboratory businesses and is based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

For more information on Aurora:

www.auroradx.com

NEW: Associate Membership

ACLA is pleased to announce a new Associate Membership category that will, for the first time, allow health care related companies and organizations including diagnostic manufacturers, non-profits, consultants, investment firms, law firms, information technology, billing firms, and others who work with the laboratory industry* to benefit from many of ACLA’s advocacy, education, and collaborative programs as well as meet with the leaders of ACLA member companies.

-- Welcome Letter
-- Benefits
-- Eligibility and Dues
-- Application

Results for Life

Media Primer on Genetic Testing

Materials and Presentations:

Agenda and Speaker Bios; Backgrounder on Genetic Testing; What Is Genetic Testing? PowerPoint; Genetic Testing in Genomic Medicine PowerPoint; Opening Remarks from ACLA President, Alan Mertz

For more information on the Results for Life Campaign, please visit our website:

www.labresultsforlife.org

ACLA is the voice for clinical laboratories, and an effective advocate before federal and state goverment. Click here to read about ACLA's remarkable record of achievement on behalf of the laboratory industry.

President's Message

Welcome to the ACLA website. We strive to keep this site continually updated with the latest information on ACLA advocacy activities, position papers, and meetings.

ACLA’s top goals for 2009 include educating policymakers on the tremendous value of laboratory services, ensuring adequate reimbursement for these services, and advocating for a regulatory environment that both fosters the highest safety and quality while promoting innovation.

Within these goals are many specific campaigns including CPI updates, copays, MUE’s, date of services rules, and supporting sensible regulation of innovative new genetic and molecular tests.

The new administration and Congress have ushered in “change” in Washington that could increase the role of government in health care, perhaps even resulting in major health care reform. ACLA will take the lead in promoting the value of laboratory services in any such reform.

We are also proud of the “Results for Life” campaign which is devoted entirely to promoting the value of laboratory services. The campaign is directed and supported by ACLA members as well as diagnostic manufacturers, professional groups and others. More information can be found at www.labresultsforlife.org

ACLA has grown exponentially in the past few years, and today truly represents the breadth and diversity of the laboratory industry. In February this year, we were proud to announce four new ACLA members – Axial Biotech, Berkeley HeartLab Inc., Diagnocure Inc., and Theranostics Health. I expect more new members in the coming months.

If your laboratory is not an ACLA member, and would like to be, I encourage you to contact me directly to learn more about ACLA’s programs and benefits (amertz@clinical-labs.org or at 202-637-9466).

Also, ACLA has established a new “ACLA Associate Member” program for non-laboratory health care companies and organizations such as diagnostic manufactures, IT firms, law firms, consulting firms, and others. For more information about Associate Membership, please contact me or Kimberly Bernet (kbernet@clinical-labs.org or 202-637-9466).

Again, welcome to our website!

Alan Mertz

President