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

Month: April 2001

“April 30, 2001 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”

Late Breaking Lab News / By Robert Michel

It seems some companies serving the laboratory industry have learned the importance of having a better understanding of the inner workings of Washington, DC. Both Cerner Corporation and Specialty Laboratories, Inc. will add Nancy-Ann DeParle to their respective Boards of Directors. DeParle was Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) from 1997 until October …

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Luminex Test Technology Entering Clinical Usage

Laboratory Equipment / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Multi-analyte diagnostic testing is moving closer to widespread clinical usage. During the past 12 months, several of the nation’s largest laboratory companies have begun to use Luminex Corporation’s LabMAP™ system to generate patient test results. At the same time, the first diagnostic test kits based on LabMAP technology have been submitted to the …

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Time to Change Bad Medicare Lab Policies

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

BYZANTINE MEDICARE REGULATIONS AND BELTWAY POLITICS are uncommon topics for THE DARK REPORT. There are any number of other sources out there that provide ample details about laboratory compliance, the complexities of billing and coding, and whether Senator Smootly will or won’t vote for reinstating the 20% lab co-pay. However, I believe the subject of …

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New England’s Path Lab Is Acquired by LabCorp

The Dark Report / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: With growing regularity, owners of larger independent clinical laboratories are opting to sell to one of the public lab companies. This time it’s New Hampshire-based Path Lab, which agreed to be acquired by Laboratory Corporation of America. One intriguing aspect of this acquisition is LabCorp’s interest in learning more about PathLab’s successful joint …

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Bigger Labs Have Always Coveted Hospital Testing

Clinical Laboratory / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: For almost two decades, the nation’s largest laboratory companies have, for all intents and purposes, been “locked out” of the market of hospital inpatient lab testing. Executives at commercial labs have long viewed hospital inpatient lab testing as an untapped market. PathLab was successful at operating collaborative lab ventures with hospitals and LabCorp …

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Wall Street Journal Addresses Error Rates by Pathologists

Anatomic Pathology / By Robert Michel

MEDICAL ERRORS HAVE TAKEN center stage in the public eye, and recently the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) printed a prominent story about errors made by the pathology profession. On Friday, April 13, the WSJ’s “Health Journal” column on the front page of section two tackled the topic of pathology errors and how patients should protect …

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Institute of Medicine Calls For 12 Medicare Lab Reforms

Laboratory Billing / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Since 1987, the clinical lab industry has endured almost non-stop cuts in the absolute level of Medicare reimbursement for lab testing. But the time may be ripe for laboratories to work together to effect far-reaching reforms to Medicare laboratory payment policies. Just as the Institute of Medicine issued its 12 recommendations for reforming …

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Identifying Future Lab Winners From Losers

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

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOME CRYSTAL BALL-GAZING as a way to make a point about strategic business planning for laboratories. As you will read here, our Editor-In-Chief has analyzed the year-end balance sheets of the two newest publicly-traded laboratory companies. The purpose of his intelligence briefing is to assess the balance sheet strengths …

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THE DARK REPORT Honors Lab “Movers & Shakers”

Laboratory Management / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: It’s time again to recognize and honor the lab industry’s strong leaders in innovative management. These laboratory executives are implementing business strategies designed to position their lab organizations to serve the changing needs of the healthcare system. Their vision and willingness to “stay the course” are traits they hold in common. IT’S BEEN …

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New Cytology Technology Entering Study Phase

Laboratory Equipment / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: There’s a new contestant in the ongoing battle to win the Pap smear technology wars. Ampersand Medical Corporation, by signing a strategic alliance with AmeriPath, Inc., has signaled that it’s ready to bring its technology to market. AmeriPath will play a major role in expediting clinical studies and both companies hope to formally …

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