DEAR EDITOR:

I am a dedicated laboratory director in Columbus, with expertise in hospital and clinical informatics. I conduct research that is crucial to providing accurate and timely tests for our state’s smallest and most vulnerable patients.

However, our laboratory, like many others, is facing economic pressure and uncertainty due to continued proposed cuts unless Congress intervenes with a long-term solution.

Medicare payments for clinical laboratories have been frozen or reduced for 18 of the past 25 years while inflation has risen. This jeopardizes vital jobs and impacts our community, providers and patients.

I am grateful to Senator Sherrod Brown for championing solutions to fix the broken payment system and protect patient access to critical laboratory services.

I urge Congress to enact long-term relief to prevent further unsustainable cuts. Ohio patients and healthcare workers deserve better.

DUSTIN BUNCH

Delaware, Ohio