University of Michigan Study Links Value-Based Care Programs to Lower Readmission Rates and $32 Million in Medicare Savings in 2015; Clinical Laboratories Play Critical Role

Aug 11, 2017 | Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations

Meaningful use, accountable care organizations, and bundled payment initiatives work best together to reduce readmissions, UM research suggests Ever since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) in 2012, healthcare organizations all over America have sought to prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. For some clinical laboratories, this meant performing precise microbiology testing to...

Insurer-Organized HIE in California Struggles to Get Participation from State’s Hospitals, Physicians, and Clinical Pathology Laboratories

Jul 6, 2016 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing

California insurers are building a massive health information exchange (HIE), but so far only one healthcare system is interested in participating Healthcare Big Data is big business. But it requires large databases with complete records of many patients, including their medical laboratory test results. That’s why two big California insurers would like to build such a data warehouse, however, hospitals and physicians are wary of feeding their patient data into an insurer-organized HIE. Why?...

Community-based Medical Laboratories and Pathology Groups Likely to Profit from Growth of Provider-sponsored Health Plans

Feb 22, 2016 | Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Uncategorized

Provider-health plan integration in Wisconsin may serve as model for hospitals and health systems nationwide as they establish their own health insurance plans One interesting new trend in healthcare is the growth in the number of provider-owned health insurance plans. This is a development that could be auspicious for local clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups because most provider-owned health plans want local labs in their provider networks. This includes contracting with...

Mayo Medical Laboratories Gathers Pathologists and Other Experts to Share Lessons Learned and Successes in Improving How Physicians Utilize Lab Tests

Sep 30, 2015 | Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations

Utilization management of clinical laboratory testing is a big trend in laboratory medicine at the moment as innovative labs strive to add more value DATELINE: DENVER, COLORADO—Interest in improving the utilization of clinical laboratory tests is at an all-time high among medical laboratories throughout the United States. Last week a national gathering of pathologists and laboratory professionals gathered in the Mile High City to share success stories and identify the best approaches to...

Some Accountable Care Organizations Are Showing Improved Patient Outcomes and Lower Costs: Still Unclear How Payment Will Be Made for Clinical Laboratory Tests

Jun 5, 2015 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Managed Care Contracts & Payer Reimbursement, Management & Operations

Clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups should develop business strategies designed to support better patient outcomes and reduced costs for ACO patients Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) are not only growing in number but some ACOs are also reporting outcomes that indicate their value-based reimbursement model may produce better results for patients than traditional fee-for-service (FFS) medicine. For the pathology profession, this news further emphasizes the need for medical...