About PAP
Pathology, like all medicine, is in a period of change with an ill-defined future. All medical specialties are competing for slices of an ever shrinking pie. In such an environment, only pathologists can adequately represent themselves.
Issues Affecting Pathologists in Pennsylvania
Reimbursement
Clearly, an issue all physicians are concerned with is adequate reimbursement. This is an issue that effects all pathologists, irrespective of their employment status. Salaried pathologists are most certainly not immune for reimbursement issues. For salaried pathologists, the hospital bills Blue Cross rather than Blue Shield for pathology services. It is this component of the Blue Cross reimbursement which is then contributed to pathologists' salaries. Even pathologists employed by commercial laboratories are affected by this system since in most instances the laboratory has some contract with the insurance carrier for pathology services. These contracts are based on prevailing rates in the community.
Professional Status
Equally important is having a "seat at the table" when determining scope of practice issues so that we can deliver optimal patient care and protect the viability of our profession. Having a strong state Pathology society that can advocate and represent our interests is vital, especially since so many scope of practice issues are decided at the state level.
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How Can The PAP Help With These Problems?
Strength in Numbers
First and foremost, being an effective lobby. It is necessary to lobby the insurance carriers for adequate reimbursement levels. It is equally necessary to lobby legislators in Harrisburg for licensing, malpractice, and other issues that affect pathologists. However, for the PAP to be an effective lobby, it must have strength in numbers. Third party payers do not need problems with pathologists that could affect public relations with clients. Politicians clearly listen to large numbers of voters. Therefore, if the PAP is to be an effective lobby, it must demonstrate that it truly represents the pathologists of the Commonwealth.
Provide A Forum
Hopefully, the PAP can also represent a forum for discussion of issues facing pathology. Changes in employment patterns have placed more pathologists in commercial laboratories. These individuals have concerns about working conditions that may compromise professional ethics. The PAP could offer a forum for discussion, and perhaps, prepare professional standards of conduct that could be endorsed by not only the membership but by third party payers and licensing agencies as well. Pathology certainly will survive, but if it is to flourish and make the contribution it should, it requires strength in numbers. Hopefully you will become one of a growing number.