A Managed Care Organization (MCO) wants to pay providers incentives to increase early and periodic screenings, diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) services to Medicaid patients. Payments are capitated, … [Read more...]
UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT
You Make the Call: Incentivizing MDs to Order More Early Screening Tests
December 17, 2018
TESTING STRATEGY
Penicillin Allergy Testing Underused, Could Lead to Cost Savings
November 26, 2018
Once a patient is labeled as having a penicillin allergy, it is rarely revisited. The label sticks and increases the patient's risk of receiving subsequent suboptimal, alternative antibiotic therapy, … [Read more...]
TESTING STRATEGY
FDA Enabling New Point-of-Care Tests for Ebola Outbreak, Flu Season
November 26, 2018
Several recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actions are bringing point-of-care (POC) infectious disease tests closer to patient care. These recent regulatory wins are enabling more rapid … [Read more...]
TESTING STRATEGY
Evidence Suggests Need for Expanded HCV Testing, Particularly Coupled With Opioid Screening in Young People
November 5, 2018
Current hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening strategies may not be adequate in the face of the opioid epidemic. Previous screening guidelines have focused on reaching the estimated 2.7 million persons … [Read more...]
UTILIZATION TRENDS
Utilization Trends: Study Links EMR Prioritization to Over Ordering of Costly Lab Tests
October 29, 2018
Health systems under pressure to cut costs and improve care quality are looking for ways to rein in what they perceive to be overutilization of lab testing. Against this backdrop, a pair of new … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
New Studies ID Strategies to Address Overuse of Laboratory Testing
October 29, 2018
The cost and quality of care are the focus of improvement initiatives happening at health systems across the country. Like imaging and other procedures, the necessity of laboratory testing, too, is … [Read more...]
UTILIZATION MANAGEMENT
Blood Test Can Cut Unnecessary Ultrasounds to Rule Out Blood Clots
October 1, 2018
D-dimer (DD) testing is still underutilized for the assessment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), according to a study published in the July issue of the Annals of Vascular Surgery. Further, DD testing … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
Drug Testing Remains Low Among Patients on Long-Term Opioids
October 1, 2018
A more universal approach to administering and responding to urine drug testing is needed, according to a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Only one in five patients receiving long-term … [Read more...]
TESTING TRENDS
Early Lactate Tests Impactful, But Often Not Performed With Sepsis
July 16, 2018
Early lactate measurements appear to improve results for patients with sepsis, but initial and repeat serum lactate levels are frequently not drawn in the recommended six-hour window, according to a … [Read more...]
INDUSTRY TRENDS
Home-Based Hospital Care Model Cuts Lab Utilization
May 29, 2018
Hospital care is notoriously expensive and potentially risky for older adults. There is interest in the home-hospital concept where acute services are provided in a patient's home, with the hope of … [Read more...]
