Sep 25, 2013 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
If enacted, this fee cut is predicted to cost medical laboratories €316M Annually and eliminate about 8,000 jobs in that nation
Clinical laboratories here in the United States are not alone in their struggle maintain quality as declining reimbursements from private and government health programs force cost-cutting measures. In France, medical laboratories have learned that they will soon see a sizeable cut in reimbursement paid to them for lab testing services.
This summer, France’s Cour des comptes (French Court of Auditors) called for cutting tariffs to medical laboratories by 7.5%, according to a report published by The Connexion.
Price Cuts Justified by Overutilization of Medical Laboratory Tests (more…)
Jun 29, 2012 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Digital Pathology, Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Sales and Marketing, Management & Operations
Price transparency expected to encourage competition among healthcare providers, including medical laboratories
Before consumers visit a clinical laboratory, they can now check the “fair” price of medical laboratory tests. New websites have sprung up that make it easy for consumers to find what experts consider to be fair market prices for each type of lab test, as well as for other medical procedures and healthcare services.
Pathologists should think of the well-known “Kelly Blue Book” that has been the price authority for prices of new and used automobiles for decades. These new medical price websites are easy to use and make it quick for a consumer to find “fair” prices for common clinical laboratory test and medical procedure.
These new web-based companies are organized to serve the needs of consumers who are enrolled in high-deductible health plans (HDHP). For an individual, an annual deductible can be as high as $2,500—and as much as $5,000 for a family. Thus, clinical laboratory managers should not be surprised that consumers are actively price-shopping before they visit their laboratory to have a specimen collected.
(more…)
Feb 22, 2012
(Speaker presentation slides, live digital audio and Q and A session included with your order)
(January 18, 2012) Speakers: Lale White, Jackie Griffin and Matt Warner, XIFIN
(December 20, 2011) Speakers: Mike Barlow and Elaine Jeter, MD
(October 26, 2011) Speakers: Peter Kazon and Alan Mertz
(September 21, 2011) Speakers: Pat Wolfram and Robert Atlas
(August 24, 2011) Speakers: Kathleen A. Murphy and Larry Siedlick
(July 20, 2011) Speakers: Jane Pine Wood, Tom Rehwald
(June 23, 2011) Speakers: Brian R. Jackson, James M. Crawford
(May 24, 2011) Speaker: Lale White
(April 20, 2011) Speaker: Jeff Smith
(March 23, 2011) Speakers: Molly Orluck, President, mollyorluck enterprises inc., Michele Pessa, President, JeNG Consulting
(February 17, 2011) Speaker: Michael Snyder,Vice President of Laboratory Management, Medical Spend Management Systems
(January 20, 2011) Speaker: Pat Wolfram, – Ignis Systems Corporation, Ruth Johanson – Providence Health
(December 15, 2010) Speaker: Patrick Maul and Robert Giles
(November 16, 2010) Speaker: Peggy McKee
(October 19, 2010) Speakers: Richard Cooper, Jane Pine Wood, McDonald Hopkins
(September 28, 2010) Speakers: Kelly A. Feist, Robert Atlas, Pat Wolfram
(August 25, 2010) Speakers: Frederick L. Kiechle, MD, Ph.D, Kathleen M Murphy, Ph.D, Gregory A. Hosler, MD, Ph.D
(July 13, 2010) Speakers: Matthew Zubiller, McKesson Corporation, Michael Tarwater, MuirLab
(June 24, 2010) Speakers: James J. Boutrous II and James J. Giszczak
(May 19, 2010) Speakers: Timothy Hannon MD, MBA and Marisa B. Marques, MD
(April 21, 2010) Speakers: Robert H. Tessier, Saraswathi Nair, M.D.
(March 17, 2010) Speakers: Michael Snyder, Sam Merkouriou
(February 24, 2010) Speaker: Dr. Bruce Hollis, PhD
(January 20, 2010) Speakers: Pat Wolfram, Ruth Johanson
(December 17, 2009) Speakers: Leslie Sprick, M. Susan Stegall; Sprick, Stegall & Associates, LLC Vince D Mello (Moderator) President, D Mello LabMed Consultants
(November 17, 2009) Speakers: Jeff Smith and Priscilla Cherry
(October 27, 2009) Speakers: Jane Pine Wood, Richard Cooper
(September 17, 2009)
(August 19, 2009)
(July 16, 2009)
(June 16, 2009)
(May 14, 2009)
(April 16, 2009) Peggy McKee, PHC Consulting
(March 18, 2009)
(February 18, 2009)
(January 14, 2009)
(December 17, 2008)
(November 13, 2008)
(October 21, 2008)
(September 23, 2008)
(August 26, 2008)
(July 30, 2008)
(May 6, 2008)
Sep 17, 2009
The Vitamin D Newsletter September 5, 2009
Vitamin D Studies of Interest
Vitamin D and H1N1 Swine Flu
So far,
Swine flu, H1N1, has killed thirty-six children in U.S. and analysis of CDC data indicates Vitamin D deficient children at higher risk of death.
I’m not sure I can do this, watch our children die this winter from what may be a preventable disease, influenza, I’m not sure I’m strong enough. A few minutes ago, the CDC issued a report on Swine flu deaths among children; thirty-six U.S. children dead so far this season and the season hasn’t started yet. The dead children were much more likely to be Vitamin D deficient; but the CDC did not realize they discovered this. However, anyone familiar with the Vitamin D literature will recognize it.
The clue: almost two-thirds of our dead children had epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or other neurodevelopmental conditions like mental retardation. What do we know of these neurological conditions? All are associated with childhood Vitamin D deficiency; I won’t bore you with the references but anyone who has ever cared for these children know it; anyone who has studied these diseases on Medline knows it; anyone who has one of these kids know it; these kids just don’t go in the sun very much. If they do live at home and go outside, parents use sunblock because the child is so vulnerable, never robust. In addition to sunlight deprivation, many of these kids take anticonvulsant drugs, which lower Vitamin D levels.
Jul 20, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Best Investigative Reporting honors earned for story about problems with Vitamin D testing
Top honors in a prestigious national journalism competition were recently awarded to our sister publication, The Dark Report. Editor-In-Chief Robert L. Michel traveled to Washington, DC, to accept the first place award for “Best Investigative Reporting.”
The occasion was the 33rd annual conference of the Specialized Information Publishers Association (SIPA). Handing Editor Robert Michel his first place award was Nora O’Donnell, News Anchor and Political Reporter for NBC News and MSNBC. (more…)
