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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Lab Industry Executive Writes Op-Ed Warning That Proposed Medicare Regulations Threaten Clinical Laboratory Testing Industry

Implementation of the proposed Medicare rules is likely to lead to the financial failure of many smaller medical laboratories, thus disrupting medical care in many communities across the United States

Three newly proposed Medicare regulations announced last month are major threats to the clinical laboratory testing industry. In fact, one medical laboratory industry executive asserts that implementation of the proposed Medicare rules could result to such an extent that only two large testing companies may be left if the proposed Medicare regulations become final.

Proposed in July, these Medicare rules, “would change the practice of pathology in this country and severely affect patient care—especially for patients with cancer,” wrote Marc D. Grodman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc.  (NASDAQ: BRLI), of Elmwood Park, New Jersey. Grodman’s opinions were published in an op-ed article in The Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C.

The Hill is published daily when the U.S. Congress is in session. It is an influential publication and is widely read by elected officials, their staffs, lobbyists, and government officials. (more…)

Volume of Clinical Pathology Laboratory Specimens Increases at Bio-Reference and Sonic Healthcare

Meanwhile, both Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp report second quarter declines in specimen volume


Fewer patients visiting physician offices during second quarter 2010 is considered to be one reason why specimen volume declined at clinical pathology laboratory testing giants Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) and Laboratory Corporation of America (NYSE: LH) during that three-month period.

For second quarter, LabCorp reported a 2% decline in specimen volume, along with a 4.2% increase in revenue. At Quest Diagnostics, the specimen volume decline was 1.3% and revenues declined by 1.4% in the second quarter 2010, compared to second quarter 2009.

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