Laboratories participating in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program should be aware that CMS has fully transitioned to paperless operations as of March 1, 2026. This change affects how laboratories receive certificates, pay fees, and receive official communications from CMS.
What Has Changed?
CMS no longer mails paper CLIA certificates or fee coupons. In addition, all CLIA certification and survey fees must now be paid electronically. Paper checks are no longer accepted.
Laboratories can now:
- Pay CLIA fees online through Pay.gov using ACH transfers, debit cards, or credit cards.
- Access CLIA certificates electronically through the Quality, Certification and Oversight Reports (QCOR) system.
- Receive fee notifications, certificates, and other important communications by email.
Verify Your Contact Information
To avoid certification or billing delays, laboratories should ensure CMS has a valid email address on file. Electronic communication is now the primary method CMS uses to distribute important CLIA-related information.
Organizations should also review their email security settings and spam filters to ensure official CMS messages are delivered successfully. Communications related to CLIA certificates and fee notifications are sent from the CMS-designated email address and should not be mistaken for spam.
The transition to electronic communications is intended to streamline CLIA administration and improve access to certification information. However, laboratories that have not updated their contact information or adapted to the new online processes may experience delays in receiving important notices.
Laboratory administrators should review their current CLIA contact information, verify staff access to online systems, and familiarize themselves with the updated payment and certificate retrieval processes.
Resource: Important Reminders About the Recent CLIA Paperless Transition