Volume XXIX, No. 11 - August 8, 2022 Archives

Powerful Lab Market Forces Impacting the Industry

This is an excerpt of a 1,584-word article in the August 8, 2022 issue of THE DARK REPORT. The full article is available to subscribers. CEO SUMMARY: These are challenging times for the nation’s hospitals, health systems, and clinical labs. A perfect storm of three lab market forces involving unprecedented shortages of lab staff, nurses, …

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Labs Face Powerful and Unwelcome Forces

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

OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD RECOGNITION THAT HEALTHCARE IN THE UNITED STATES is on an unsustainable path. The obvious argument was that year-over-year increases in healthcare costs would eventually overcome the ability of employers (private health plans) and the government (Medicare and Medicaid) to pay the bill. Yet, 25 years after …

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News and Insights from AACC Meeting in Chicago

Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Laboratory Trends, Laboratory Equipment, People / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: There was plenty of positive energy last month when the 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting and Exhibition of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) took place in Chicago. Attendees seemed pleased to be gathering and networking in person. However, there was recognition that the acute staffing shortage, combined with increasing inflation and deteriorating …

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Tough Times Ahead for Hospitals and Their Labs

Clinical Laboratory Trends, Lab Intelligence / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: These are challenging times for the nation’s hospitals, health systems, and clinical labs. A perfect storm involving unprecedented shortages of lab staff, nurses, and other professionals with inflation-fueled cost increases and deteriorating hospital finances was a major topic of discussion by lab leaders and lab vendors at last month’s annual meeting of the …

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Hospital Lab Outreach Taps On-Demand Testing

Clinical Laboratory, Clinical Laboratory Trends, Laboratory Management / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: In this case study, clinical laboratory managers from Bryan Health in Nebraska explain how they expanded their lab outreach program to include direct-to-consumer tests. The project involved researching what tests were most appropriate without the need for a physician’s order and enlisting the help of various business departments within the health system. FINDING …

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PAMA Cuts Might Be Reduced to Zero for 2023

Laboratory Billing, Laboratory Compliance / By Scott Wallask

CEO SUMMARY: Congress may soon vote on a new bill that permanently reduces the amount of price cuts to Medicare Part B lab test prices, as specified under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA). The Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA) eliminates a 15% payment cut for hundreds of lab tests …

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Coverage, Reimbursement Still Difficult for New Lab Tests

Genetic Testing, In Vitro Diagnostics, IVD/Lab Informatics, Laboratory Billing / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Bringing a new proprietary diagnostic test to market is an arduous process. It takes patience and planning to complete the journey from test development to payer reimbursement. This slow process stems from the fact that the healthcare reimbursement system is fragmented, with the three main segments being Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers, each …

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August 8, 2022 Intelligence: Late-Breaking Lab News

Late Breaking Lab News / By Robert Michel

One of the biggest health insurers in the United States has changed its name. As of June 28, Anthem in Indianapolis, Ind., is now known as Elevance Health. The new name is a combination of “elevate” and “advance,” noted Modern Health Executive on June 16. Elevance also announced Carelon as its new healthcare services brand …

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