Thanks for nothing. While CMS likes to congratulate itself for using provider pay adjustments to "transform the healthcare delivery system," more often than not, the rhetoric fails to live … [Read more...]
FOCUS ON
Anti-Kickback Statute: OIG Eyes Changes to Safe Harbor Rules
February 27, 2018
As it does every year, the OIG is reviewing the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) current safe harbor rules. The deadline to comment: end of business, Feb. 26. Here's a quick rundown of what's at … [Read more...]
HEALTH CARE REFORM
Medicare Reimbursement: Federal Government Funding Extension Includes a Boatload of Medicare Changes
February 26, 2018
The government shutdown fiasco is having an impact on Medicare spending and reimbursement. But the crucial details are being buried in the legislative paperwork. So we decided to ferret them out for … [Read more...]
FOCUS ON
Lab Industry Report: The Year in Diagnostics Mergers & Acquisitions
January 17, 2018
Continuing recent trends, most of the wheeling and dealing that took place in the lab industry in 2017 involved strategic alliances rather than mergers and acquisitions. Thus alliances outpaced … [Read more...]
FOCUS ON
CLIA: After 36 Years, CMS Gives Lab Accreditation a Good Hard Look
January 16, 2018
"May you live in interesting times." If you've been in the clinical labs business for a while, you probably appreciate the wisdom behind this ancient Chinese curse. 2018 is shaping up to be a very … [Read more...]
INFORMATION SECURITY
Are Labs Personally Liable to Data Breach Victims—CareFirst Case May Provide the Answer
November 21, 2017
While data breaches inside labs and other health care settings happen all the time, lawsuits for money damages by victims have been relatively unusual. But now the U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to … [Read more...]
FOCUS ON
PAMA Implementation: PLA Codes for Advanced Dx Tests Are Off to a Flying Start
November 16, 2017
PAMA implementation is so sweeping that it requires a shift in not just payment paradigm but also CPT codes. This has served as the impetus for development of a new class of codes known as … [Read more...]
FOCUS ON
EHR: Window Closes on Meaningful Use Exemptions as Congress Seeks to Make Future Compliance Easier
November 6, 2017
October has been a big month for meaningful use compliance. Oct. 1: Deadline "Hardship" Exemption Among the victims of the recent natural disasters are first-time participants in the … [Read more...]
REIMBURSEMENT TRENDS
Billing & Coding: Proposed New Molecular Pathology Crosswalk Codes for 2018
October 23, 2017
The newly proposed 2018 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule includes over 130 crosswalked CPT codes, including roughly 30 new codes for molecular pathology tests. New Crosswalked Molecular Pathology … [Read more...]
LAB OPERATIONS
Don’t Crash & Burn: Why Cutting Your Quality Department’s Budget is not a Good Idea
October 18, 2017
By Jennifer Dawson, MHA, DLM (ASCP) bio Do you think that you can improve your organization's bottom line by reducing the budget to your quality program and cutting its staff? Think … [Read more...]
