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

Volume XXI No. 15 - November 3, 2014

Where Are Pathologists When You Need Them?

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? National health insurer has exclusive national contract with a single billion-dollar lab company. Billion-dollar lab company creates a business division to manage how physicians order lab tests. This lab test order system requires physicians to follow the lab test order algorithms established by the national health insurer (and its national …

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Public Comment Started on FDA LDT Regulations

CEO SUMMARY: On October 3, the FDA published draft guidelines to regulate laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). Pathologists and lab executives now have 120 days to comment on the guidelines. Several prominent national lab associations have expressed concerns about this additional bureaucratic oversight of LDTs. The FDA said that this new layer of regulation will be phased …

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Florida Ob-Gyns Call for UHC to End BeaconLBS

CEO SUMMARY: In Florida, obstetricians and gynecologists are complaining about the burdensome nature of the new lab test management system introduced by UnitedHealthcare. In addition to calling for an end to the program, some ob-gyns plan not to use the system, a process that could lead UHC to deny payment to clinical labs. In a …

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UnitedHealth Answers Queries about Function of BeaconLBS

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED to UnitedHealthcare about the insurer’s laboratory benefit management program now coming into operation in Florida were provided by the company’s public communication officer. These answers are reproduced below: Q: Will BeaconLBS process the claims that come through the BeaconLBS system or will UHC process those claims once they are approved by …

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Cigna Sues HDL, Alleges Unlawful Fee Scheme

CEO SUMMARY: In court papers, Cigna alleged that HDL misrepresented patients’ responsibilities by promising not to collect co-payments, co-insurance, or deductibles. Also, HDL promised not to seek reimbursement from patients for any portion of its bills that the health insurer did not cover, the court documents show. HDL misleadingly billed the health insurer at exorbitant …

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LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics Report Improved Q-3 Revenue

THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS at each of the nation’s two biggest public lab companies showed improved growth in revenue and specimen volume, as compared to recent years. Laboratory Corporation of America was first to release its financial report for the quarter ending September 30, 2014. The company said that revenue totaled $1.55 billion, compared to $1.46 …

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Alberta Picks Sonic Health for $3 Billion Lab Contract

CEO SUMMARY: For more than a year, Alberta’s C$3 billion RFP to develop an integrated laboratory testing service for Edmonton and surrounding regions has been the focus of intense interest. On October 17, health officials announced that Sonic Healthcare Limited was the preferred proponent. The two parties will now enter into negotiations to finalize an …

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November 03, 2014 Intelligence: Late-Breaking Lab News

In response to the Ebola outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization for the use of two rapid tests to detect Ebola. The tests are manufactured by BioFire Defense LLC, a division of BioMerieux. The BioFire Defense FilmArray NGDS BT-E Assay is authorized for use by laboratories designated by the Department of …

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