Good news for labs that are testing Medicare patients for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes coronavirus using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019 Real Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Test … [Read more...]
REIMBURSEMENT
Billing & Coding: CMS Sets Rules for Medicare Coronavirus Testing Reimbursement with Private Payors Expected to Follow Suit
March 17, 2020
LABS IN COURT
Urgent Care Centers Settle E/M Upcoding Charges for $2 Million
November 28, 2019
Case: The owners/operators of CareWell urgent care centers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have agreed to shell out $2 million for improper coding of Evaluation and Management services. CPT code … [Read more...]
CO-ORDINATING DATA
Laboratory Information Systems (LIS): What You Need To Know To Get Paid
September 30, 2019
By Sean McSweeney bio Today, laboratory billing claims require more and more data to successfully get paid. One of the biggest reasons your claims may be getting denied is because you're not … [Read more...]
WHISTLEBLOWERS
Billing & Coding: Myriad Genetics Pays $9.1 Million to Settle Claims of Falsely Billing Medicare for Hereditary Cancer Tests
July 30, 2019
In March 2018, Myriad Genetics got a piece of mail no lab provider ever wants to see in its inbox: an OIG subpoena asking for billing records in connection with "an investigation into possible false … [Read more...]
CODING
Tennessee Pain Doctor Faces Jail for Opioid Abuses, Medicare Fraud
May 15, 2019
Case: The doctor is facing 45 charges, including 22 counts of illegal distribution of a controlled substance for routinely prescribing oxycodone and other Schedule II drugs without examining and … [Read more...]
PAYER CONTRACTS
Three key items to negotiate for successful payer contracts
April 8, 2019
By Steve Selbst bio The purpose of this article is to help you, as a provider, to focus on three key items to look for in payer contracts that will help you to get profitable contracts in … [Read more...]
WORKING WITH PAYERS
Billing & Coding: Pathology Group Asks CMS to Raise Medicare Prices for BRCA1/2 Sequencing Tests
January 23, 2019
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) thinks the final 2019 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule payment amounts shortchanges labs that provide BRCA genetic testing and is calling on CMS to … [Read more...]
PAMA
Proposed 2019 Medicare PFS: The 5 Things Labs Need to Know
September 14, 2018
On July 12, CMS issued the proposed 2019 Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS), with comments scheduled to end on Sept. 10. Takeaways: 1. Physician Payment Rates CMS is proposing a 0.25% increase … [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...]
FALSE CLAIMS
Labs In Court: A roundup of recent cases and enforcement actions involving the diagnostics industry
May 23, 2018
Ohio Hospital System Settles Kickback Claims for $14.25 Million Case: Rather than risk a trial, Mercy Health will pay $14.25 million to settle charges of entering into improper financial … [Read more...]
