Dec 14, 2016 | Digital Pathology, Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Instruments & Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing
Because of ongoing advances in gene sequencing and the data analytics needed to interpret that information, new approaches to clinical care are becoming available to physicians and pathologists
COLD SPRING HARBOR, NEW YORK—Internationally-recognized as a leader in bringing together the brightest minds in genetics, the Banbury Center at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) produced a three-day conference here last week to explore the future state of anatomic pathology and identify opportunities in genetic medicine and image sciences that play to the strengths of the nation’s pathology laboratories.
“Evolution and Revolution in Anatomic Pathology: Automation, Machine-Assisted Diagnostics, Molecular Prognostics, and Theranostics” was the title, and the meeting’s organizers were CSHL and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Northwell Health.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Founded in 1890
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has a long history and an enviable reputation. It was founded in 1890 to train teachers in biology. However, by 1904, the laboratory’s mission had been expanded to include research in genetics. In 1924, the research mission was further enlarged to include quantitative biology—in particular, physiology and biophysics.
It was in 1968 that Nobel laureate James Watson, then a professor at Harvard University, accepted the directorship of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory while also keeping his professorship at Harvard University. Watson served at some level of leadership until 2008, when he became Chancellor Emeritus. Currently CSHL laboratory houses about 200 research-related personnel. (more…)
Dec 12, 2016 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing
All hospital labs need to understand the negative financial impact to their labs and have a plan to absorb the fee cuts and remain clinically and financially viable
If you believe some experts, in just 13 months many of the nation’s hospital medical laboratory outreach programs will experience a financial disaster that could put them out of business and reduce Medicare patients’ access to lab testing services. This event happens on January 1, 2018, when Medicare officials implement substantial cuts to the Part B Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS).
These fee cuts are the result of the section of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) that requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to collect private-payer lab test price data from the nation’s medical laboratories and use that data to establish fees for the CLFS. CMS officials estimate that the fee cuts will reduce payments to labs by as much as $400 million in 2018.
What puts the laboratory outreach programs of the nation’s hospitals and health systems at significant financial risk is the fact that CMS, as verified by reports issued by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), intends to reduce fees on the 25 highest-volume highly-automated lab tests that make up 59% of what Medicare spent on clinical laboratory tests in 2014.
Stated differently, the OIG says that, in 2014, Medicare paid a total of $7 billion for clinical laboratory tests. Of this total, the Medicare program paid $4.1 billion for the top 25 tests. In a report issued in September, the OIG wrote, “Changes in the Medicare payment rates for these 25 tests could have a significant impact on overall Medicare spending for lab tests when the new payment system for lab tests goes into effect in 2018.” [Italics by Dark Daily.] (more…)
Oct 17, 2016 | Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Sales and Marketing, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations
Providing physicians with the clinical context and knowledge for the best use of specialty clinical laboratory tests helps this highly successful lab sales professional establish win-win client relationships
In support of the many local clinical laboratories and hospital lab outreach programs across the United States that continue to regularly add new clients and take market share away from their national lab company competitors, The Dark Report organized the 2016 National Lab Sales Excellence Award.
The award winners were announced at this year’s Executive War College in New Orleans on April 26–27. Reporting on the lab industry’s top sales producers serves two worthy goals. First, it brings recognition to the accomplishments of these lab sales professionals. Second, it helps medical laboratory administrators and pathologists at other labs and hospital outreach programs learn more about what it takes to use lab sales reps to win new clients.
What follows is a profile of the 2nd winner of the 2016 National Lab Sales Excellence Award. Dark Daily will publish profiles for each of the five laboratory sales professionals who were recognized with this unique national sales award. (more…)
Sep 12, 2016 | Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations
Even during healthcare’s ongoing transformation, there are hospital laboratory outreach programs prospering because they support top-producing sales representatives
Across the United States, many local clinical laboratories and hospital lab outreach programs are not only holding their own, but regularly adding new clients and taking market share away from their national lab company competitors. Such sales success by these labs goes against the popular wisdom that times are tough for smaller medical laboratories.
One common trait that these thriving lab organizations have is a productive sales and marketing program that is anchored by one or more top-producing lab sales representatives. This year, The Dark Report, Dark Daily’s sister publication, decided it was time that these lab sales success stories be made public. (more…)
Aug 3, 2016 | Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations
‘Explosive growth’ of biomarker discovery and development fuels demand for biospecimens, thus creating a new revenue source for clinical laboratories and pathology groups
Are health information networks alive and well in the United States? This sector of healthcare has been quiet in recent years. However, there is one statewide health information exchange (HIE) that is doing innovative things with clinical laboratory specimens.
The Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) has entered into a novel collaboration that may help address the medical research community’s growing need for clinical specimens. At the same time, this agreement will also provide a much-needed new revenue stream for participating medical laboratories and hospitals.
With Medicare and health insurers reducing reimbursements for laboratory tests, medical laboratories and pathology groups are facing uncertain financial times. However, DHIN’s new partnership with iSpecimen of Massachusetts highlights the potential value of remnant clinical specimens—samples that otherwise would be discarded once patient testing is complete.
“The value of digitizing medical data extends beyond the obvious value of supporting direct patient care,” DHIN Chief Executive Officer Jan Lee, MD, said in a news release. “With informed patient consent, digital data can also help match clinical specimens with very specific research criteria. DHIN is proud to play a role in supporting such efforts to find new breakthrough treatments and cures.” (more…)
