Are you aware that your license fee with LFS has risen dramatically? This staggering increase is 335% for CLSs and MLTs, 300% for Lab Assistants and Phlebotomists. Other categories of personnel are affected too (Lab Directors, Genetic Counselors, etc.) Physical laboratories themselves have also endured a 40% to 60% increase in their fee. However, the brunt of the increases has been on personnel. Not only that, the renewal period has now been changed to annual. This adds up to a very big increase and it has hit the laboratory profession in California like a tsunami.

 

This came about because Governor Newsom asked LFS to be self-funded. LFS was given free reign to raise license fees as much as they wanted with no limits. There is an amazing effort going on right now, involving 22 organizations that includes professional organizations, hospital systems and blood banks, spearheaded by ASCP Nor Cal. This alliance is confronting the fee increases head-on because we are really concerned that the steep increase in license fees will trigger a rash of nonrenewals - especially among travelers (upon whom we already rely heavily), part-timers and older workers close to retirement. There is already evidence of nonrenewals in rural areas - and that is not good. The goal is to change our renewal from annual to triennial. This would balance out the impact and spread the increase over three years instead of one.

 

CAMLT has partnered with the ASCP Alliance and is directing our lobbyist, Audra Hartman, with PPA, based in Sacramento, to be involved in the effort to modify AB144. Recently, contact with the Governor’s Office was initiated. They asked us for language that would change the law AB144 to reflect a triennial renewal period. That effort is ongoing.

 

The ASCP Alliance leadership will meet with LFS/CDPH leadership on August 26th at 3:30 pm online. This meeting is meant to give LFS/CDPH a chance to explain how this massive fee increase happened, with no transparency or a chance for people to weigh in on the decision. Also, for the ASCP Alliance to ask for triennial renewal.

 

The ASCP Alliance Core Leadership includes Ann Chicocki/ASCP, Dr. Justin Hanenberg/ASCLS, Laura Laasko/ASCP/CAMLT, Dr Luke Valencia/Folsom Lake College, Marilyn Virgo/CLS,Media Personality, Josie Schrage, CAMLT, and Valerie Trenev, CAMLT. The other news is that CLTAC will resume with the first meeting in almost two years, on August 27th. You can attend that meeting online by reaching out to CLTAC@cdph.ca.gov to make a reservation and receive a link to the meeting. Please help the ASCP Alliance by participating in this brief survey.