Apr 2, 2014 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology
Hospitals and physicians are acting quickly to improve their ability to collect directly from patients as vendors enter market with new collection tools; clinical labs are slower to respond to this fast-moving trend
Collecting deductibles from patients and tackling growing bad debt is quickly becoming a priority at hospitals and health systems around the nation. Clinical laboratories and pathology groups face the same need to become better at collecting money directly from patients at time of service.
By now, it has become clear to most providers that most health insurance plans include requirements that consumers meet a substantial annual deductible—anywhere from $1,500 to as much as $10,000 for a family. Co-payment amounts also have increased significantly, particularly for ancillary services such as medical laboratory tests and imaging studies.
Higher annual deductibles and co-pays are a feature of the new Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum health plans offered through the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But this is equally true of many private health insurance plans. (more…)
Sep 24, 2012 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Clinical laboratories and pathology groups will soon find it important to make it easier for patients to price for medical laboratory tests
Value-based reimbursement is the new frontier for the American healthcare system. Surveys show that employers and insurers are actively pushing the healthcare marketplace to a value-based, competitive paradigm. This means providers—including pathology groups and clinical laboratories—will be asked to deliver greater transparency in both the price and quality of their clinical services. (more…)
Aug 22, 2012 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Study shows pathologists are at greater risk for malpractice lawsuits than other physician specialties
It is estimated that pathologists and other healthcare providers paid nearly $31 billion in malpractice insurance in 2011, according to a recently-published study. Researchers also determined that pathologists are at greater risk of malpractice claims than most other medical specialties and are more likely to have unfavorable outcomes when those claims are litigated.
Study Compares Malpractice Claims According to Physician Specialty
Patients for Fair Compensation (PFC) conducted the study. It was published in The JAMA Network’s Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers investigated the proportion of malpractice claims that result in litigation or the outcomes of the litigation process, according to the authors’ abstract. In particular, the study focused on the different outcomes according to physician specialty. (more…)
