Dear AAB Member: 

Every year presents new challenges for community and regional clinical laboratories. And in 2015, the challenges continue to mount. Here are just some of the issues we have been working on and will continue to work on:

• Implementing the “Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) of 2014,” which threatens to dramatically lower Medicare payment rates by 2017.
• Encouraging Congress not to cut laboratory payments to fix the "SGR" formula for Medicare's physician payments. (AAB's efforts were successful. On April 14, 2015, Congress passed a permanent "SGR" fix without cutting laboratory payments.)
• FDA regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs). This will especially affect laboratories that provide molecular/genomic testing.
• Coding consolidation and adjustments for drug test assays.
• Exclusion from managed care “sole source” contracts.
• Decreasing test volume due to the economy and changes in the U.S. health care system.
• Increased costs to meet new rules and regulations.
• Increased costs for EHR interfaces and interoperability.
• Switching from ICD-9 to ICD-10 by October 2015.

We have difficult issues to address, and we need to be sure that Congress understands that fee schedule cuts, copays, and other payment reductions, such as competitive bidding, will seriously erode the ability of community and regional laboratories to properly service Medicare beneficiaries. We are counting on your participation and support as AAB, NILA and CRB address these regulatory and legislative challenges in the coming year.

In addition to monitoring and responding to federal and state legislative and regulatory issues, AAB offers a variety of other membership benefits. Use AAB’s website, publications, educational programs, and conferences to find helpful information, sharpen your skills, gain new ideas, and make valuable contacts with other laboratorians.

The FREE daily News Clips service is available to AAB members via email from AAB’s Proficiency Testing Service (PTS). To subscribe, forward your email address to aab@aab.org, attention: Shannon Hood.

Mark your calendar for AAB’s 60^th Anniversary Conference, May 12-14, 2016, at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. Don’t miss this special celebration and opportunity to earn CEUs and network with colleagues. Visit www.aab.org for details.

Earn CEUs, study for certification exams, and update and add to your knowledge, all at your convenience, using AAB’s online courses: NEW: PER Hematology, Immunohematology, Immunology and Serology, Microbiology, and Molecular Diagnostics Online Reviews available individually or in a package. Additional online courses include PER Chemistry Review, PER Basic Knowledge Review, and AAB’s Andrology and Embryology Review Course. Visit www.aab.org for details and ordering information.

Update on AAB’s Special Interest Sections

The National Independent Laboratory Association (NILA) continues to work with other professional associations to address the many issues facing the laboratory industry. Plans are underway for a Capitol Hill Day later this year, and the 2016 NILA Lab Leaders Forum will be held January 29-30, 2016, at the Mokara Hotel & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.

The College of Reproductive Biology (CRB) 2016 Annual Symposium is being held May 12-14, 2016, in conjunction with AAB’s 60^th Anniversary Conference. Plans are also underway for an Andrology & Embryology Review Course.

CRB publishes a regular digital CRB Newsletter. Your CRB membership can save you up to $332 off the regular subscription price to Reproductive BioMedicine (RBM) Online. CRB members qualify for a special discounted subscription rate of $80. Visit www.aab.org to subscribe.

2015 Membership Renewal Information

Renew your 2015 membership online through AAB’s secure payment site and receive your membership certificate faster, help AAB cut expenses and save natural resources. Visit www.aab.org and log in to your account using your username and password or contact the AAB office at (314)241-1445 for assistance.

You can also update your membership profile, register for AAB conferences/seminars, keep up-to-date with AAB’s Special Interest Groups, purchase AAB publications and products, submit your CEUs, view/print your CEU transcript, and access other activities restricted to AAB members online through AAB’s website.

2015 Dues Increase

In 1976, nearly 40 years ago, AAB’s director dues were $200. Correcting for inflation, AAB’s 1976 director dues equal $837 in today’s dollars. And the supervisor/manager dues of $60 in 1976 equals $251 in 2014.

Over the past 40 years, AAB has increased dues just once, in 2005, and only by $25 (from $200 to $225) for directors, and $15 (from $60 to $75) for supervisors/managers.

During the economic downturn that began in 2007/2008, the AAB Board pledged not to increase AAB’s dues again until the economy improved. And even with relatively low inflation over the past decade, the $225 director dues from 2005 now equals $274 in today’s dollars, and the $75 supervisor/manager dues now equals over $91 in 2014 dollars.

In order to continue to provide you with quality membership services, the AAB Board of Directors decided to increase AAB’s 2015 dues to correct for inflation over the past 10 years. The 2015 dues are as follows:

In addition, your AAB invoice includes a minimum $5 contribution to AAB’s David Birenbaum Scholarship Fund [to which you can “add to” or “opt-out”]. Hundreds of scholarships have been awarded over the years to AAB/AMS members, children, spouses, and grandchildren. This suggested contribution is being added to improve and increase AAB’s valuable Scholarship Fund and to provide at least some financial assistance to students and new laboratorians who wish to attend AAB’s educational conferences and programs. Please help us “Pay it Forward” by making a generous contribution to AAB’s Scholarship Fund.

And, as an extra incentive, an anonymous donor has agreed to match, dollar for dollar, any Scholarship Fund contributions over $5 (up to an aggregate of $5,000).

And don’t forget this important AAB membership benefit: if you are certified by the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB), AAB will pay your 2015 ABB CEU recording fee of $80, saving you $80.

Help your favorite charity by donating to AAB’s Political Action Committee (AAB★PAC)

AAB maintains an active presence in Washington, D.C. to provide the current Administration and Congressional leaders with accurate information about clinical laboratory issues.

For every dollar you donate to the AAB★PAC, AAB will make a matching charitable contribution, dollar for dollar, to your favorite charity [must be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, such as a church, school or synagogue]. For example, donate $100 to the AAB★PAC, AAB will donate $100 to your favorite charity. 

Thank you for your continuing support! Your AAB membership and active participation in the work of this association is greatly valued. If you have any questions, please contact the AAB office.

Sincerely yours, 

Mark S. Birenbaum, Ph.D.
Administrator

P.S. AAB’s Proficiency Testing Service, an industry leader for over 60 years, has available for 2015 an expanded list of CAP accredited analytes. View the 2015 virtual catalog at www.aab-pts.org or contact PTS by telephone: 800-234-5315 or email: customerservice@aab-pts.org.