College members practice their specialty in community hospitals, independent clinical laboratories, academic medical centers and federal and state health facilities.
Pathologists provide services crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
They perform research into disease processes, conduct investigation of new methodologies for medical testing and analysis and are vitally interested in the transfer of new medical technology into the clinical laboratory for the benefit of patients. The introduction of new technology in the clinical laboratory is progressing at an astonishing pace. As an example, molecular pathology and genetic testing are compelling areas of growth in new technology that have significant implications for the practice of pathology and the specialty's ability to provide critical patient care information to patients and their attending physicians. Therefore the CAP is very much interested in and is keenly aware of the implications of Medicare coverage criteria for patient access to new technology in the clinical laboratory. The CAP recognizes the importance of establishing uniform criteria to make national coverage decisions as well as local coverage decisions by Medicare contractors.