Jun 17, 2019 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing
As physicians continue to re-evaluate their career strategies, clinical laboratories must closely monitor changes to test ordering from formerly self-employed doctors For the first time, more doctors are employed by health networks than are in private practice. That’s according to a recent report from the American Medical Association (AMA). In a press release, the AMA describes the event as “the continuation of a long-term trend that has slowly shifted the distribution of physicians away from...
May 22, 2019 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Managed Care Contracts & Payer Reimbursement, Management & Operations
Clinical laboratories that service both settings could be impacted as new CMS proposed rule attempts to align Medicare’s payment policies for outpatient and in-patient settings Hospital outpatient revenue is catching up to inpatient revenue, according to data released from the American Hospital Association (AHA). This increase is part of a growing trend to reduce healthcare costs by treating patients outside of hospital settings. It’s a trend that is supported by the White House and Medicare...
May 2, 2019 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Managed Care Contracts & Payer Reimbursement, Management & Operations
Sonic’s data-driven approach to population health management, based on helping clinicians intervene with patients to control healthcare costs, increases the lab’s revenue Sonic Healthcare USA is using clinical laboratory test data to help its client providers improve population health. This effort also has allowed the Austin, Texas-based lab company to share in the savings one provider client received from the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Using integrated financial and clinical analytics,...
Apr 22, 2019 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology, Managed Care Contracts & Payer Reimbursement, Management & Operations
When negotiating an effective Part A contract for professional pathology services, the best approach is to structure an agreement that is fair and reasonable to both the hospital and the pathologist. That’s the advice given by Robert Tessier, Senior Reimbursement Consultant, HBP Services, Inc. in an interview with Dark Daily. In his position with the Woodbridge, Conn.-based management consulting firm, Tessier advises hospitals on their contracts with pathology groups (HBP stands for...
Mar 20, 2019 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology
Data-driven proof supports decision-making that optimizes efficiency and boosts bottom lines in the face of shrinking margins and increased competition Molecular and esoteric testing developers continue to make advanced assays and diagnostic technologies available to medical laboratories. However, some laboratory senior management and stakeholders may be reluctant to invest in them even though the market for such testing is poised for significant growth. That’s because lab shareholders might...
Jan 30, 2019 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology
Experts are skeptical of the value of public price lists based on hospital chargemasters due to complexity and poor reflection of actual costs In another big step toward helping consumers view prices of medical procedures when selecting providers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) passed the IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule, which requires hospitals to post a full list of hospital pricing information on their websites starting January 1, 2019. Clinical laboratories, anatomic...
