The ASCLS Labvocacy Symposium event (formerly the ASCLS Legislative Symposium) is held annually to provide up to the minute information on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the laboratory profession. Through information presented at Labvocacy, attendees receive background information on how to lobby and the legislative process, including how to present information to congressional representatives, informally known as ‘the ask’.

This toolkit has been created to provide information on the legislative process, the legal issues affecting the laboratory profession, and promote the discussion of licensure as an advocate for the profession. Some suggested uses for this toolkit include:

  • Incorporate specific legislative information into the management education modules of the curriculum

  • Create a module specific to advocacy and legislative practices within the Learning Management System (LMS) to upload resources (videos, labvocacy handouts and leave behinds)

Suggested Learning Objectives

  1. Compare and contrast the responsibilities of the state and federal governments.
  2. Describe the legislative process.
  3. List three government agencies that impact the clinical laboratory.
  4. Distinguish between accreditation, certification, and licensure.
  5. Discuss the importance of licensure for laboratory professionals.
  6. Discuss the history (or potential impact) of licensure of laboratory professionals in (Insert your state here).
  7. Briefly describe how the following regulations affect the clinical laboratory:
    • CLIA
    • HIPAA
    • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
    • Age Discrimination in Employment Act
    • Americans with Disabilities Act

Suggested Assignment

Create a letter to a legislator that contains a specific ask related to clinical laboratory science based on an issue discussed in the Labvocate session and explain the reasoning for why the legislator should support the ask. The letter should be specific about what you were asking the legislator to do (not just “support laboratory education”) and the potential benefits for the profession, and our the patients we support.

    • This can be revised as necessary, from a written assignment to a discussion board with appropriate rubric/grading scheme as needed.