As a result of a recent record check, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued 171 cease-and-desist letters to facilities that did not have proper certifications in place as outlined in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA), according to a press release from the agency. CLIA certification is important because it verifies that laboratories meet federal performance, quality and safety standards to properly diagnose, prevent and treat diseases.
Every facility that conducts COVID-19 testing is considered a “laboratory” and must be certified under CLIA. To make certification easy, CMS implemented an expedited review process at the beginning of the public health emergency and recently released a quick-start guide that helps laboratories with the application process. CMS said that it is imperative to public safety that facilities apply for CLIA certification and only operate within the scope of that certification to prevent false results that could adversely alter diagnosis, treatments and contribute to the further spread of COVID-19.
Since August 12, 2020, CMS issued 171 cease-and-desist letters to entities across the U.S. that were testing for COVID-19 without an appropriate CLIA certificate. Of those 171 letters, 34 percent went to facilities conducting laboratory testing without a CLIA certificate and 66 percent were issued to laboratories performing COVID-19 testing outside the scope of the existing CLIA certification. The letters ordered these laboratories to stop immediately to safeguard the integrity of COVID-19 testing and protect patients from potential endangerment if provided inaccurate or unreliable test results. Following receipt of the letter, laboratories are required to provide CMS an attestation certifying they have ceased testing.
In the letters, CMS provided non-certified laboratories with information on how to become CLIA certified and encouraged certified laboratories to obtain the proper CLIA certification to resume testing. CMS has taken this action to promote compliance with CLIA and keep patients safe.
