News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel

News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel
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Clinical Pathology Labs Should Plan on Greater Transparency in Test Prices and Patient Outcomes

At least seven states have laws mandating an on-line database showing the cost of medical treatments by different providers


At both the federal and state level, the trend toward greater transparency in health-care pricing continues to spread. This is a trend which is designed to require providers—including clinical laboratories and pathology groups—to make their prices for laboratory testing easily accessible to patients and consumers.

Across the nation, federal and state governments are implementing policies aimed at helping consumers make informed health-care decisions. Ultimately, pricing transparency is expected to contain rising health-care costs by creating consumer-driven competition between providers. This is intended to increase price competition among hospitals and physicians’ offices initially. Medical laboratories will eventually be included.

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Consumer Wellness Trend Portends Change in Existing Lab Testing Business Model

Blame it on informed, well-off consumers who pursue wellness and optimum health

Informed consumers may be shifting the healthcare paradigm even as Congress prepares to hammer out its vision of a radically-reformed healthcare system. At least that’s the view of one healthcare expert, who observes that the steady growth in the number of consumer home test kits, patient self-testing devices, and point-of-care tests is a major factor enabling this trend.

People today increasingly get their healthcare outside of the physician-centered healthcare system, stated Mary Kate Scott, Principal at the Los Angeles consulting firm, Scott & Co., in her recent report to the California HealthCare Foundation. (more…)

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