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

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...

UCSF Study Puts Spotlight on the High Prices of Medical Laboratory Tests Charged by California Hospitals

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco revealed that the cost for a simple cholesterol test ranged from as little as $10 to as much as $10,169! Clinical laboratories owned by hospitals and health systems should take note of a public study of hospital laboratory test prices that was conducted by researchers at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). It was published this summer and showed a remarkable range of prices for medical laboratory tests charged by...

FDA’s Unique Device Identifier Program for In Vitro Diagnostic Devices Used by Clinical Laboratories Set to Begin September 24

Donor screening assays and in vitro diagnostic tests, including laboratory-developed tests, are now classified as IVDs and require a UDI label Later this month, a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule will take effect that requires unique device identifiers (UDIs) on most medical devices. This will include analyzers, instruments, and automated systems used by clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology labs. UDIs also will apply to certain combinations of products that contain devices...

Providers, Payers and CMS Gear Up for ICD-10 Implementation, but Will They Be Prepared for Launch by October 1, 2014?

Pathologists and medical laboratory managers have only nine months to prepare their labs for ICD-10 implementation Most clinical laboratory managers and pathologists know that October 1, 2014, is the date for implementation of ICD-10. After that date, each Medicare claim submitted by a medical laboratory must include the ICD-10 code provided by the referring physician. This is a unique reason why clinical laboratories and pathology groups have keen interest in a smooth transition from ICD-9 to...

Fee-for-Service Payment to Phase Out in Five Years? That’s the Recommendation of National Commission on Physician Payment Reform

Commission issues 12 recommendations to enhance physician and patient satisfaction, while creating a financially sustainable healthcare system How quickly will fee-for-service disappear as a primary source of reimbursement for clinical laboratories, pathologists, hospitals, and physicians? If the recommendation of one credible group of physicians has its way, fee-for-service reimbursement could disappear in as little as five years. This recommendation was made by National Commission on...
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