Joseph Burns
Joseph Burns is the senior editor of The Dark Report. An independent journalist in Falmouth, Mass., Burns has covered health care since 1991 and clinical laboratories since 2004. He writes for a variety of publications, including Managed Care magazine (where he is a contributing editor), Hospitals & Health Networks, and Healthcare Finance News. In addition, he is the insurance topic leader for the Association of Health Care Journalists and has worked as a writer and editor for The Commonwealth Fund, the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute, the National Business Coalition on Health, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and the National Quality Forum. Burns has edited books on health care business strategies for Faulkner & Gray and Panel Publishers and was editor-in-chief of Business & Health magazine, formerly published by Medical Economics Co., and later was a contributing editor and columnist for Managed Healthcare Executive magazine. He began his career as a journalist in Connecticut, working as a newspaper reporter for The Wallingford Post and the Meriden Record-Journal and as a copy editor, reporter, and regional news editor for The Hartford Courant, the nation’s oldest newspaper. While working for The Courant, he taught news writing at the University of Connecticut.
Articles by Joseph Burns
Quest Subsidiary Acquires True Health Assets for $8.5M
BANKRUPT LAB COMPANY TRUEHEALTH DIAGNOSTICS AGREED TO SELL some remaining assets priced at $8.5 million to Cleveland HeartLab, a subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics. True Health, with labs in Richmond, Va., and Frisco, Texas, filed a bankruptcy action in…
Labs Must Respond to New CMS Anti-Fraud Rule
CEO SUMMARY: Clinical labs and pathologists providing tests for patients in Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Program should become acquainted with new enrollment rules that go into effect Nov. 4. The new rules allow CMS to revoke or deny enrollment to help stop fraud b…
Strategist Explains Key Trends in Healthcare’s Transformation
CEO SUMMARY: Four trends are disrupting the nation’s healthcare system in ways that no one would have predicted just a few decades ago. Ted Schwab, a healthcare strategist, described these trends during his keynote presentation at the 24th Annual Executive War College in May. His insig…
Lab Monitors Compliance of Chronic Opioid Patients
CEO SUMMARY: Hospitals and health systems developing programs to manage patients on chronic opioid therapy (COT) are finding that an essential element of these programs is regular toxicology testing. In its role as the toxicology test provider for a health network in Indiana, AIT Laborato…
Expert Sees Pros, Cons In DP and WSI Systems
CEO SUMMARY: Now that the FDA has cleared two digital pathology systems for use in primary diagnosis, a growing number of pathology groups are taking up the question of whether and when they should adopt and use a digital pathology system and whole slide imaging. One pathologist with hand…
Monitoring Patients on Opioids Is Opportunity for Clinical Labs
CEO SUMMARY: When developing a program to identify and treat patients who misused opioids or needed chronic opioid therapy, Community Health Network (CHN) of Indianapolis recognized that clinical lab toxicology tests were one of the few sources of objective data about patient compliance….
ASCP, CAP Ask Anthem to Roll Back Price Cuts
CEO SUMMARY: One association representing pathologists says new payment rates that Anthem, Inc., is introducing in 14 states do not cover the costs of performing anatomic pathology and clinical lab testing for the tests in question. Another association says the steep payment cuts threaten…
Anthem’s Cuts in AP Fees Could Put Patients at Risk
CEO SUMMARY: Consultants who work with anatomic pathologists have several theories about why Anthem is enacting deep cuts of 50% to 70% for the professional component of many anatomic pathology services. While they have different ideas about what motivates the nation’s second largest he…
PGx Labs Concerned by FDA’s Statements, Actions
CEO SUMMARY: Since April, the federal Food and Drug Administration has taken steps that target clinical laboratories that perform pharmacogenetic (PGx) tests. In response to letters from the FDA, some PGx lab companies have stopped reporting data that predicts a patient’s response to ce…
Few Options for Pathology Groups Facing Anthem’s Payment Cuts
FACED WITH DEEP CUTS in payment for anatomic pathology professional component services from Anthem Inc., pathologist have only a few options in how they can respond, according to consultants who work with AP groups. “These are dire cuts to anatomic pathology reimbursement,” said…
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXII, No. 6 – April 21, 2025
Now that a federal judge has vacated the FDA’s LDT rule, The Dark Report analyzes the judgement and notes the various steps the FDA could take in response. Also, lab testing at pharmacies is proving to be less successful than was once anticipated.
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