Since 1995, Reliable Business Intelligence for Clinical Laboratories, Pathology Groups and Laboratory Diagnostics

November 1998

What’s Next For Regional Laboratory Networks?

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

SINCE THE CONCEPT OF REGIONAL LABORATORY NETWORKS burst on the scene in 1995, I have ardently believed in their potential to help hospital laboratories remain relevant in the world of managed healthcare. The early victories of Pittsburgh’s Regional Laboratory Alliance and San Francisco’s Bay Area Hospital Laboratory Network inspired all of us. Indeed, in 1995, […]

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Health Insurance Costs Begin New Upward Spiral

Laboratory Management / Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Health insurance costs are climbing again for the nation’s employers. Premium increases for 1999 average in excess of 10%. After losing money in 1997 and 1998, managed care companies are serving stiff premium increases to their customers. For clinical laboratories, the impact of these national trends are too soon to predict. But there

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Medicare Refund Request Issued To AmeriPath, Inc

Laboratory Billing / Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Regulators believe AmeriPath’s Ft. Lauderdale laboratory submitted claims during 1996 which were based upon improper procedure codes or lacked adequate documentation. AmeriPath “vigorously” disputes the situation. It is still uncertain as to whether this action represents a larger campaign that will target laboratories and pathologists for new issues involving Medicare billing and reimbursement.

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PPM Giant MedPartners Exits Doctor Management

Pathology Trends / Robert Michel

THIRD IN A SERIES WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN the largest companies in a multibillion dollar industry announce that they will “get out” of that business? That is the question which must be answered after MedPartners, Inc. joined PhyMatrix Corp. in publicly declaring that they would abandon the physician practice management (PPM) business. MedPartners announced

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Washington’s PacLab Network Succeeds With Standardization

Laboratory Management / Robert Michel

PART TWO OF TWO PARTS CEO SUMMARY: In part one of this two-part series, we looked at how changes to healthcare in the state of Washington brought about the creation of PacLab Network Laboratories. In this concluding installment, we explore how PacLab is standardizing laboratory operations and information systems capabilities across the statewide net work.

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Improved 3rd Quarter Performance Posted By National Laboratories

Laboratory Management / Robert Michel

Third quarter financial performance at all three national laboratories improved over the same period of 1997. It is an important sign that the three companies are stabilizing their finances. All three national laboratories continue to emphasize cost-cutting as a major corporate priority. That is to be expected, since increased penetration of managed healthcare maintains a

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“November 30, 1998 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”

Late Breaking Lab News / Robert Michel

ARIZONA For pathologists interested in preserving and enhancing their income, THE DARK REPORT’S Private Pathologist Income Symposium was just the item. Held in Scottsdale on November 13-14, it attracted a sell-out crowd of pathologists and practice administrators. Interest in the symposium was so strong that registrations sold out two weeks before the event. MORE ON:…PATHOLOGIST

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When Managers Make Decisions

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

IF YOU OPERATE A CLINICAL LABORATORY, does the news of NeoPath, Inc.’s national contracts with Kaiser Permanente and SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories (SBCL) alter your competitive position in the market? After all, it’s only been a few months since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved NeoPath’s Pre-Market Application (PMA) to use its AutoPap System

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Kaiser, SBCL To Automate Pap Smear Screening

Laboratory Automation / Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Two of the country’s largest Pap screen testing organizations are preparing to introduce automated primary screening into their laboratories. NeoPath’s con- tracts with SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories and Kaiser Permanente mark the beginning of a new market cycle. NeoPath is poised to exploit these developments while continuing to enhance AutoPap’s capabilities. TWO OF

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Kaiser Plans Widespread Use For Pap Technology

Laboratory Automation / Robert Michel

WITHIN THE HMO INDUSTRY, Kaiser Permanente is highly respected for its thorough research into the clinical efficacy and economic cost of new healthcare technologies. That is the reason why Kaiser’s decision to adopt NeoPath, Inc.’s automated cytology technology for primary screening of Pap smears is getting widespread attention within the laboratory community. Coupled with a similar

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