On 4 August, ASM sent a Public Affairs Alert to its clinical members to inform them of a proposal that the Senate Finance Committee is considering in its health care reform legislation. The proposal would impose a 20% copayment on laboratory tests covered by Medicare. Copayments for laboratory tests would have a negative impact on the ability of clinical laboratories to continue to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries because the administrative costs for collecting copayments will exceed the collectible amount of the copayment (labs must make repeated attempts to collect the copayments under current law). The 2000 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report Medicare Laboratory Payment Policy, Now and in the Future makes the following argument against beneficiary copayments: "The current policy of not requiring beneficiary cost-sharing for Medicare outpatient clinical laboratory services should continue. Cost-sharing is unlikely to significantly reduce overuse or increase the detection of fraud and abuse; it could create barriers to access for the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries; and it would be financially and administratively burdensome for laboratories, patients, and the Medicare program depending on its design." In its alert, the ASM encouraged members to contact their Senators to oppose the provision because of the negative effect of this policy on both clinical laboratories and Medicare beneficiaries. The alert and sample letter to Senators is available at http://www.asm.org/index.php?option_com_content&view_article&id_90973&Itemid_9999.