By now, you've no doubt heard the news that the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) "won" its lawsuit against CMS over PAMA lab pricing. Only it's not as simple as that. The favorable US … [Read more...]
PAMA
Explaining the Legal News: Why ACLA Court Win Boosts Chances of PAMA Pricing Relief
September 10, 2019
COMPLIANCE
Compliance Perspectives: What to Do When Respiratory Safety & Religious Rights Collide
August 26, 2019
THE SCENARIO A lab requires all employees who work with or near materials emitting toxic vapors to wear respirators with tight-fitting facepieces. Since facial hear interferes with a tight seal, … [Read more...]
Compliance Heads Up: New Kickback Safe Harbors Rule Is Almost Ready
June 25, 2019
After months of promises, posturing and public consultation, the Department of Health and Human Services is getting ready to unveil a proposed rule to liberate labs and other providers from the … [Read more...]
LAB SAFETY
Changes in hazardous waste management: the Generator Improvement Rule
June 3, 2019
By Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) bio If you haven't heard by now, you should know that the EPA published its Generator Improvement Rule (GIR) in 2016. It is an update to the … [Read more...]
COMPLIANCE TIPS
Surviving a Medicare Audit: Warn Lab Staffers Not to Lie to Auditors
May 28, 2019
As a lab compliance director, you understand the dangers of obstructing a Medicare audit. The problem is your staff may not. So, make it clear to any staffer that may come into contact with an auditor … [Read more...]
LEGISLATION
Compliance Alert: New Private-Pay Opioid Law Puts All Drug Addiction & Rehab Labs at Risk of Federal Prosecution
January 7, 2019
Recent federal legislation addressing the opioid crisis may have unintended consequences on the lab industry. The idea was to allow the feds to prosecute a certain kind of abuse banned by the … [Read more...]
WALL STREET JOURNAL WRITER
Carreyrou Captivates Lab Institute With Inside Look at Theranos Fall
October 25, 2018
The tale could be headed to movie theaters around the nation soon. It is a gripping story of a Steve Jobs-wannabe—a young Stanford dropout with a vision and more than $400 million in funding from … [Read more...]
LAB SAFETY
The Safety Interpretation
September 10, 2018
By Dan Scungio, MT (ASCP), SLS, CQA (ASQ) bio When hospitals were placed on OSHA's list of "high-risk" workplaces, no one had to ask why. OSHA adjusts that list based on the number of … [Read more...]
COMPLIANCE PLANS
OIG Work Plan Monthly Review: July 2018
August 20, 2018
None of the six new items that OIG added to its Work Plan last month directly impact labs. 1. Identification of HHS Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities Questions: Where are the cybersecurity … [Read more...]
FEE SCHEDULES
How PAMA’s Effect in 2018 Molecular Diagnostic Reimbursement Will Make Labs More Money
June 25, 2018
By Sean McSweeney bio The year 2018 is slated to be much brighter for molecular diagnostic labs as PAMA fee schedules show a higher payment rate and amount for many cancer genomics and … [Read more...]
