Secaucus, N.J. – September 18, 2026 -- A new national survey commissioned by Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) finds that 75% of 1,024 registered voters surveyed consider diagnostic lab testing "very important" to their care, with a bipartisan majority pressing Congress to pass the RESULTS Act before scheduled Medicare payment cuts take effect January 1, 2027.
83% of voters relied on a lab test in the past two years to guide a medical decision
The survey found 96% of registered voters view diagnostic lab tests as important to their or their family's care, while 88% expressed concern if Medicare lab payment rates were set too low. Half of respondents said Medicare seniors, rural communities, and people managing cancer or chronic disease would be hurt most if the cuts take effect.
PAMA rate-setting relied on data from under 1% of laboratories, cutting nearly $4 billion from 2018-2020
The Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), enacted in 2014, was intended to set market-based rates for the Clinical Lab Fee Schedule (CLFS) using private payor data. Implementation instead drew on data from less than 1% of all laboratories, producing artificially low rates that stripped nearly $4 billion from the CLFS between 2018 and 2020. Without congressional action, CLFS rates face cuts of up to 15% starting January 1, 2027, with further reductions of up to 15% scheduled for 2028 and 2029.
74% of voters want Congress to act now, rising to 80% once informed of impact on cancer and diabetes testing
Support held across party lines, with an average of 75% of Republicans, Democrats and Independents backing congressional action to prevent the cuts before they harm patients. Ninety-three percent said they would be likely to support a congressional candidate who works to protect Medicare patients' access to diagnostic testing.
RESULTS Act carries roughly 130 congressional sponsors and backing from 70-plus medical organizations
The bipartisan RESULTS Act would give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services access to comprehensive private payor data and set annual guardrails against destabilizing rate cuts. Backers include the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, and the Association of American Medical Colleges. The Congressional Problem Solvers caucus issued a statement on July 30, 2026, calling for the bill's passage.
Lee H. Hilborne, Senior National Medical Director at Quest Diagnostics, said laboratory insights are often the only tool available to identify disease risks at early, preventable stages. Susan Van Meter, president of the American Clinical Laboratory Association, said lab tests function as "the GPS of healthcare,