PAMA Cuts Delayed but Advocacy for RESULTS Act Continues | Department of Education Draft Regulations Spark Concern Over “Professional” Degree Definitions | Apply for ASCLS Awards and Scholarships | ASCLS Volunteer Opportunities | and More
PAMA Cuts Delayed but Advocacy for RESULTS Act Continues
On January 22, Congress passed a bipartisan consolidated appropriations package that funds most of the federal government through the end of September.
The bill does not include the RESULTS Act ASCLS and the rest of the Clinical Laboratory Coalition have been seeking, but it does include some provisions to address the looming funding cliff for clinical laboratories.
Advocacy efforts to pass the RESULTS Act, which continues to add cosponsors, will continue.
Cuts that were scheduled to occur at the end of January, have been delayed to at least 2027. In addition, new private payer data from 2025, instead of 2019, will be collected during a window of May 1 to July 31 from all “applicable laboratories,” which CMS will have to define.
The agency was given some flexibility in implementing changes to the collection process. This was sought by the agency and explained to the coalition during a briefing with the agency in January. The agency recognizes that rules promulgated for the first round of collection are suboptimal.
“We are grateful that Congress is prioritizing urgently needed relief from PAMA cuts,” said in a statement from the CLC. “Moving away from 7-year-old data to more current data to set 2027 Medicare CLFS rates is an important piece of reform. However, we continue to be concerned about the remaining structural problems with PAMA, meaning that CMS likely will not have comprehensive and representative commercial data to set Medicare rates.
“We will look forward to working with the clinical laboratory community to urge Congress to leverage this spending bill’s downpayment on PAMA reform and take the additional steps necessary to ensure Medicare CLFS rates are stabilized by passing the RESULTS Act this year.”
In addition, the appropriations law fully funds the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including NIH, and even increases funding for workforce programs, ignoring the requested budget cuts from the administration.
The package includes approximately $888 million for the HRSA Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, representing a 0.3% increase in overall funding to the programs compared to FY 2025 enacted levels.
Some clinical laboratory science education programs have received grants under Title VII in the past.
ASCLS urges its members to continue to use StopLabCuts.org to advocate for passage of permanent PAMA reform.
Department of Education Draft Regulations Spark Concern Over “Professional” Degree Definitions
Provide Public Comments by March 2
One of the provisions of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” (Public Law 119-21) that passed in 2025 was significant changes to federal student loan programs.
The new law sets annual and lifetime limits for students for graduate school, based on the type of degree. Some degrees, labeled in the law as “professional,” qualify for higher limits, which is $50,000 per year/$200,000 lifetime versus $20,500 per year/$100,000 lifetime for other “graduate” degrees.
The terms “professional” and “graduate” are terms contained in old regulations within the Department of Education (DoE), which administers these programs. In order to administer the new caps put in place by Congress, the department must revise their old regulations.
You may have seen a great deal of concern raised about nursing degrees not being counted among “professional” degrees, and that was interpreted to mean to some that nurses weren’t professionals. The real issues are far more nuanced.
The synopsis is that DOE looked at the doctoral degrees for nursing and some other health professions and concluded that the existing definitions that they interpret to exclude these programs, including doctoral degrees in nursing and physical therapy, should stay in place.
The proposed regulation is long, so you may want to focus on the degree definition.
ASCLS is concerned that this could eventually impact DCLS students. ASCLS is formulating comments to be submitted by March 2 and is encouraging its members, especially educators, to express your concerns directly by submitting a public comment.
Comments should only address the regulation of degree definitions, as the DoE has no control over the new loan limits imposed by Congress.
Apply for ASCLS Awards and Scholarships
Awards Nominations Due March 15
ASCLS President and Peter Davis
Now is the time to recognize fellow ASCLS members and medical laboratory professionals for their service and dedication to the profession and Society. A wide range of awards offer meaningful opportunities for recognition, career advancement, and professional visibility.
Submit your nominations for the following awards by March 15.
- Ascending Professional Leadership and Achievement Awards
- Community Engagement Award
- Developing Professional Leadership and Achievement Awards
- Pinnacle Award
- Scientific Research Award
- Theriot Award (for media and equipment development)
Details about applying for these awards and the link to submit applications are on the Awards and Scholarships webpage. Questions can be addressed to awards@ascls.org.
Recognizing excellence strengthens the entire profession. Encourage your colleagues—and yourself—to apply or nominate deserving members. The ASCLS Awards Ceremony will be held June 30 at the 2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Scholarships Available for Undergraduate and Graduate CLS Students
The Alpha Mu Tau Fraternity and ASCLS Education & Research (E&R) Fund, Inc., support the advancement of medical laboratory professionals through graduate and undergraduate scholarships for clinical laboratory science students. Applicants for all scholarships must be ASCLS members. Applications are due by March 1.
Annual Student Paper Award Competition
Deadline: April 15
The Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum (CLEF) Student Paper Award Competition is currently accepting submissions for MLS/DMS/CGT/MLT student-authored research papers and case studies.
Student research papers should address scientific as well as applicable educational, technical, administrative, consulting, and management studies.
Case studies should address any unusual, interesting, and unique manifestation of a disease etiology, pathology, clinical syndrome, complications, and prognosis known or unknown.
The award for the top research paper and the top case study is a $500 cash prize and free registration to attend the 2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (in-person or virtually). You must be an ASCLS member to apply.
ASCLS Volunteer Opportunities
Sign up to Serve on ASCLS Committees by March 16
For years, ASCLS has thrived because dedicated professionals like you have stepped forward to share your talents and energy. Together, we’ve built an organization that truly represents the voice of medical laboratory science.
Now, we’re looking ahead to another year of meaningful work, and we need your help. Our committees are where real change happens—where ideas become action, where challenges get solved, and where the future of our profession takes shape. Whether you have years of committee experience or have never volunteered before, there’s a place for your unique perspective and skills.
Learn more and apply by March 16.
Webinar – The Mindful Medical Laboratorian
February 26, 1 pm ET | Virtual
Learn how the practice of mindfulness can be applied in the clinical laboratory setting to reduce errors. Topics will include “ancient wisdom” from our urinalysis analyzers, creation of your own personal maintenance plan, transition practices between work and home, mindful use of social media, and more.
Presenter: Kerry Toups, MS, MLS(ASCP), Fletcher Technical Community College
This webinar is free for ASCLS members ($10 for non-members). Preregistration is required. If you can’t attend live, register anyway—those who pre-register will receive access to the webinar recording.
Learning Objectives
- List key benefits associated with the practice of mindfulness.
- Describe ways to incorporate mindfulness into the clinical laboratory setting.
- Discuss the benefits of incorporating mindfulness into everyday tasks.
Instruction Level: Basic
ASCLS is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.
2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM)
June 28-July 2 | St. Louis or Virtual
ASCLS, the Association of Genetic Technologists (AGT), and Society of American Federal Medical Laboratory Scientists (SAFMLS) come together each summer for JAM, the premier gathering of laboratory professionals to share their knowledge, research, and best practices related to the field of laboratory science.
- Learn from about 50 P.A.C.E.®-approved scientific sessions from all three organizations.
- Network and socialize with peers from across the country and around the world.
- Explore exhibit booths from a wide range of industry partners.
- Attend in-person or virtually, and access session recordings for at least 30 days after the event.
Put it on your 2026 calendar, and get those PTO requests in soon.
Call for 2026 JAM Poster Presentation Abstracts
Make an impact on the future of medical laboratory science by sharing your research and case studies with peers from across the nation.
All posters will be showcased digitally (both onsite in St Louis and via the meeting app). Submissions will be accepted from both in-person and virtual attendees. In-person attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the poster competitions for cash prizes. All accepted primary poster presenters will receive $100 off registration for the meeting. The deadline for abstract submissions is March 21.
Race to JAM Student Trivia Competition
Race to JAM is a national student trivia competition hosted by the ASCLS Developing Professionals Forum. Preliminary rounds are conducted over Zoom on Saturday, April 18, starting at 10 am ET.
The final two teams will go head-to-head in-person at the 2026 ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), held June 28-July 2 in St Louis, Missouri. The winning team will be recognized during the Awards Ceremony at JAM. Learn more.
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
11th Annual ASCLS Lab Week Run
April 19-25, 2026
Step out of your labs and into your communities to help spread the word about the medical laboratory profession by participating in the ASCLS Lab Week Virtual Run.
This virtual race can be completed any time during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 19-25, 2026) and anywhere. Participants can walk, use a treadmill, run outside, or even ride a bike to complete the 5K distance (or 3.1 miles). Organize a group run with friends and family, or go solo.
Early Bird Pricing is extended to March 1. All proceeds go to scholarships that help medical laboratory professionals attend ASCLS meetings, advocate for the profession, and become future leaders in the field.
Time to Work on Lab Week Proclamations
One way to bring awareness to the profession—especially if you can schedule an in-person signing—is to get a proclamation for Medical Laboratory Professionals Week by your governor or mayor. Now is the time to contact your governor and/or mayor to request a proclamation for April 19-25, 2026. Below are some examples of 2025 proclamations.
Share Your Favorite Recipes
The ASCLS Marketing and Communication Committee compiled a digital cookbook of recipes for potlucks that have been lab-tested and approved by ASCLS members and other medical laboratory professionals. We’re updating the book for 2026 Lab Week celebrations.
Share your favorite recipes by March 31 to be added to the next edition.
Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) On Demand
ASCLS held the 6th Annual Emerging Laboratory Managers Collaborative Conference (ELMC2) in November 2025. The virtual event is specifically designed for laboratory professionals preparing for or new to management roles. Session topics included financial literacy, how to conduct successful staffing interviews, emergency preparedness, time management, and more.
The recorded sessions are now available to stream online through ELMC2 On Demand. Individual sessions are $10 for ASCLS Members/$15 for non-members. The All Access bundle of 21 sessions is available at the discounted rate of $150 for ASCLS members/$210 for non-members.
Save the dates for the next all-virtual ELMC2, November 13-14, 2026.
CLEC 2026 Showcases Innovation, Collaboration, and Excellence in Education
ASCLS welcomed 674 educators from across the country for the 2026 Clinical Laboratory Educators Conference (CLEC). We had 447 attendees join us in Bellevue, Washington, and 227 online, February 5-7. The educational program featured 38 sessions presented by nearly 70 speakers sharing ideas, thoughts, and takeaways for clinical laboratory education programs. Additionally, 24 posters featuring 50 authors and co-authors were showcased. View photos from the event.
The 15 members of the CLEC Steering Committee were joined by over 70 volunteers to make CLEC a resounding success by helping to review session proposals and poster abstracts, serving as moderators, helping at the registration desk, and more.
Attendees shared their most positive aspects of the CLEC 2026 program on conference evaluations:
- “CLEC is always a fantastic resource for trends and challenges to be addressed within the broader lab education environment.”
- “Networking and hearing what other programs are doing to navigate the challenges we all face was very helpful!”
- “Everyone wants to help each other and share ideas”
- “I learned a lot on topics I was quite interested in. I made some great connections. And I could tell everyone was very invested in education and improving the field.”
CLEC also included 19 industry partners who showcased innovative technologies, textbooks, and other educational materials for the educators—both in the exhibit area in Bellevue and in their virtual booths.
The ASCLS Education & Research Fund, Inc., virtual silent auction raised nearly $1,400 for medical laboratory science scholarships and research grants.
Also during CLEC, the Clinical Laboratory Educators Forum (CLEF) presented the inaugural CLEF Impactful Innovation in Education Award to recognize Dr. Sonya Hidalgo, MLS program director and assistant professor at McNeese State University, for her “Lab-n-a-Bag: MLS Outreach Kits for Pre-College Students.”
The CLEC Steering Committee is eager to evaluate feedback from this conference and start planning another amazing CLEC 2027 in Arlington, Texas, February 4-6.
Clinical Laboratory Science Journal Updates
Issues Indexed on CINAHL
Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) Journal Editor-in-Chief Catherine Otto is excited to announce all issues from 2018 through 2024 are now indexed on the database, CINAHL.
This means that when researchers, students, members of our profession, and other healthcare professionals perform literature searches in this database, all of the articles in CLS are available.
Call for Manuscripts
CLS journal is currently soliciting manuscripts for publication.
Topics of interest include:
- Research findings related to the profession
- Findings from quality improvement projects undertaken in your facility
- Novel teaching methods
- Review articles of timely scientific topics
Learn more about how to submit manuscripts. If you have questions, please contact, CLS Editor-in-Chief Catherine Otto at clseditor@ascls.org.
Voices Under 40
Spotlight: Krystina Angelini, MLS(ASCP)CM, SM(ASCP), Roanoke, Virginia
Krystina is currently employed by Radford University Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program as a lead instructor for the program’s didactic courses. Previously she served as an academic advisor to students in their academic journey in MLS.
Krystina has served in many roles for ASCLS—Membership Committee member, Planning Committee co-chair, and now holds a place as a Program Advocacy Task Force member for the Association of Medical Laboratory Education Programs. She also assisted with the ASCLS-Virginia Annual Meeting in April of 2024, where they experienced record setting attendance. Read more.
ASCLS Voices Under 40 honors ASCLS members who have shown exceptional commitment to the Society, the laboratory profession, and their community at large at a younger age in their professional career. Each month we spotlight one of the shining voices who was selected from many nominations across the country.
Nominations are currently open for the 2026 Voices Under 40. Nominations are due March 15.
Latest Jobs
Laboratory Operations Supervisor
Mosaic Diagnostics
Overland Park, Kansas
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Lab Corp of America
Phoenix, Arizona
Medical Laboratory Scientists
Altru Health System
Devils Lake, North Dakota
See more job openings on the ASCLS Career Center.
If you’re looking to fill an opening, post your job in the ASCLS Career Center and get access to over 18,000 candidates.
Local Events
ASCLS-Arkansas and Arkansas Antimicrobial Stewardship Foundation Webinar
February 25
Diagnostics with Intent: a Stewardship Mindset
Virtual
ASCLS-Mississippi-Louisiana Bi-State Meeting
March 2-4
Biloxi, Mississippi
Minnesota Clinical Laboratory Collaborative
March 19-20
Saint Paul, Minnesota
ASCLS-Nebraska and ASCP Great Plains Chapter Joint Spring Meeting
March 24-25
Omaha, Nebraska
ASCLS-Central New England Annual Conference
March 30-31
Warwick, Rhode Island
ASCLS-Idaho Spring Conference
April 2-3
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Missouri-Kansas Joint Conference and Exhibits
April 8-9
Overland Park, Kansas
ASCLS-Texas Annual State Convention
April 8-10
San Antonio, Texas
ASCLS-Michigan Annual Conference
April 12-14
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
ASCLS-Wisconsin State Convention
April 14-15
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Clinical Laboratory Collaborative Conference (ASCLS-Colorado and ASCLS-Wyoming)
April 16-17
Denver, Colorado
2026 Arkansas Laboratory Conference
April 17
Benton, Arkansas
2026 ColLABoration (ASCLS-Iowa and ASCP Iowa)
April 28-29
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
ASCLS-New Jersey Spring Seminar & Expo
April 30
Somerset, New Jersey
ASCLS-Montana Spring Meeting
May 7-9
Anaconda, Montana
Hawaii Clinical Laboratory Conference
September 17-18
Honolulu, Hawaii
Key Dates
Webinar – The Mindful Medical Laboratorian
Virtual
February 26
2026 ASCLS Committee Volunteer Sign-up Deadline
March 16
2026 Joint Annual Meeting Poster Abstract Submission Deadline
March 21