Robert Michel
Until Robert L. Michel came along and founded The Dark Intelligence Group (DIG) two decades ago, the clinical laboratory industry and the anatomic pathology profession lacked a trustworthy source for information about the management and operations of medical laboratories. From its inception in 1995, The Dark Report quickly became the “go to” source of industry intelligence, innovations in lab management, and strategic market analysis.
This excellence in reporting has earned recognition from his peers. For example, twice Michel and The Dark Report have won national awards for best investigative reporting by the Specialty Information Publishers Association. In 2005, the award was for Michel’s coverage about how the anatomic pathology condominium laboratories (pod labs) operated by urologists and gastroenterologists came to be, who operated them, and how these owners marketed the AP condo labs to other physician groups. In 2009, Michel’s award for best investigative reporting resulted from his published interviews with Quest Diagnostics Incorporated when the company admitted that, for a period of 18 months, it had been reported inaccurate Vitamin 25(OH) D results because of problems with its laboratory-developed test methodology. The Dark Report’s story was picked up by The New York Times and was in the national news cycle for several days.
In his role as Editor-in-Chief, Michel brought unique capabilities to DIG and The Dark Report. His management training and diverse business experience—along with his skills as a concise writer and analyst—proved to be a winning combination for readers of The Dark Report. For that reason, Michel’s story has many intriguing elements.
Immediately prior to founding DIG, he had served in several executive positions for Nichols Institute based in Portland, Oregon, and San Juan Capistrano, California. This was during the time that Nichols Institute was an independent public lab company with annual revenues of about $280 million (prior to its acquisition by MetPath, Inc., now Quest Diagnostics Incorporated). He traveled extensively to many of the clinical lab business units owned by Nichols Institute in different regions of the United States and played a role in formulating effective market strategies in response to the emergence of closed-panel HMOs, capitated pricing, and full-risk managed care contracts, among other successful management initiatives.
Prior to his service at Nichols Institute, Michel served at three different Fortune 100 companies. These were Procter & Gamble, Centex Corporation, and Financial Corp. of America. Each was an opportunity to master new management techniques and apply them in different industries. Between these positions, he gained experience as an entrepreneur, having founded a real estate development firm and a general contracting company in the Southeastern United States.
Robert Michel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played rugby, a sport he participated in for another 22 years. He is a native of California and grew up in Santa Ana.
Articles by Robert Michel
Anticipating Washington’s Next Blows to Lab Testing
CEO SUMMARY: With the advent of 2013, almost every lab was responding to some type of price cut. Clinical labs are dealing with the sequential, multi-year cuts to the Medicare Part B Lab Test Price Schedule. Anatomic pathology labs are still adjusting to the expiration of the TC Grandfath…
Mass. AG Coakley Cites Two Labs in 48-Count Medicaid Kickback Case
MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL Martha Coakley has cited two lab companies in a case involving kickbacks related to drugs of abuse testing. Coakley’s office made the announcement on March 8. Coakley alleges that fees were collected from patients illegally and that prescriptions for medications were…
Tennessee AG Opinion Adds Unease to EHR Donation Issue
ANOTHER STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL (AG) has issued an opinion on the donations of electronic health record (EHR) systems by clinical laboratories to referring physicians. The opinion says that such donations would violate Tennessee state law. The Tennessee AG’s opinion is similar to one issued in Nove…
March 25, 2013 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Last month, Dignity Health acknowledged that it is engaged in negotiations to sell its lab outreach business that is based in Stockton, California. The lab outreach program is known as HealthCare Clinical Laboratories and is associated with 294-bed St. Joseph…
Palmetto’s Prostate Biopsy Policy Removed after Talks with CMS
THERE IS SOME POSITIVE LAB INDUSTRY NEWS that has not been widely reported yet. It involves a decision to change an unwelcome Medicare policy that limited the number of prostate biopsy specimens per case that would be reimbursed. After discussions between lab industry groups and the federal …
Two MTs Launch New Lab In Aberdeen, North Carolina
CEO SUMMARY: Although located in the same region as two of the nation’s largest laboratory companies, newly-created Triune Laboratory, Inc., is reporting steady growth and acceptance by physicians in the community. Founded by two medical technologists and partially funded by a pathologi…
LipoScience Completes IPO, Raises $44.9 Million from Sale
IT HAS BEEN A WHILE since a laboratory company has successfully completed an initial public offering (IPO). Thus, it is notable that LipoScience Inc., of Raleigh, North Carolina, recently accomplished that feat. On January 24, 2013, Liposcience closed its IPO and raised $44.9 millio…
March 4, 2013 “Intelligence: Late-Breaking Lab News”
Even if not billion-dollar transactions, there are some interesting deals unfolding in the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) marketplace. Last month, HYCOR Biomedical, Inc., of Garden Grove, California, sold its Kova urinalysis system and business “to an affiliate of One …
ACO Numbers Increase, Now Cover 10% of Nation
CEO SUMMARY: A recent report by a consulting firm that tracks the ACO industry indicates that, as of the end of 2012, ACOs of all types involved—in some manner—between 25 and 31 million patients. Moreover, Medicare and private ACOs are located in regions where 45% of the population of…
February 11, 2013 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Would it surprise you to learn that just five organizations control 91% of California’s health insurance market? At the top of the list is Kaiser Permanente, which holds a 40% share of the California market. Following, in order, were Anthem Blue Cross (23%), …
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXII, No. 15 – October 27, 2025
The Dark Report examines the momentous decision by the VA to switch accreditors from The Joint Commission to CAP. Also, we analyze retractions in pathology journals to gain insight into scientific fraud.
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