Issues Archive

The most complete archive of clinical and pathology lab industry news available, including issues from 1997 to the present.

Volume XX No. 3 – March 4, 2013

In this issue:

A NEW YORK HOSPITAL LABORATORY introduced algorithms to screen for the presence of are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff), probably the most challenging infections for hospitals to control and reduce. And in the past five years, the hospital not only cut costs by almost $3 million and improved quality, but also did fewer tests for these two infectious diseases. The contribution of this lab demonstrates how labs can leverage lab testing to deliver increased value.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 2 February 11, 2013

In this issue:

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 the United States lives. These facts confirm that it would be timely for local clinical laboratories and pathology groups to develop appropriate strategies for serving the ACOs in their communities.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 1 – January 22, 2013

In this issue:

WHEN PATHOLOGY LABS DISCOVER instances of a misidentified or contaminated tissue specimen, there’s a new service that allows them to retrospectively use DNA to properly match that specimen to the correct patient. In part two of our series, we look at how some pathology labs are using the Know Error service to catch these errors before the lab report is issued to physicians and patients. Also, four Massachusetts labs and a billing company pay a $140,000 fine in a HIPAA case.

View Issue TOC

Volume XIX No. 18 – December 31, 2012

In this issue:

THE DARK REPORT’S “Top Ten Lab Stories of 2012” have more lows than highs, including the end of the TC grandfather clause, new policies for prostate biopsy billing, and a dramatic 52% cut to 88305-TC fees. The common link to many of these news stories is a reduction in what government and private health plans will pay for lab tests. Going forward into 2013, a steep cut in the 88305 CPT code means anatomic pathology laboratories can expect cuts in the payment from Medicare for molecular and prostate biopsy testing.

View Issue TOC

Volume XIX No. 17 – December 10, 2012

In this issue:

STRAND DIAGNOSTICS’ Know Error system is designed to reduce or eliminate errors involving tissue specimen misidentification. In this first part of our two-part series, we provide information about the diagnostic or “prospective” use of this system by physicians. Also, four California labs have sued Quest and three insurers, alleging anticompetitive practices that violate certain California and federal laws.

View Issue TOC

Volume XIX No. 16 – November 19, 2012

In this issue:

IN HOUSTON, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System has put together a health information exchange (HIE) to serve the Houston market. This HIE not only gives physicians immediate access to a wide variety of patient data, but also supports the type of workflow required for Memorial Hermann’s new accountable care organization to succeed. Also, early-adopter labs are finding success with with Lean & QMS.

View Issue TOC

Volume XIX No. 15 – October 29, 2012

In this issue:

UNABLE TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS at a rural hospital laboratory caused by the parent hospital’s financial problems and the inability of the hospital to recruit adequate numbers of lab staff, the laboratory director resigned and notified the New York State Department of Health about the situation. NY state lab regulators found additional deficiencies, eventually revoked the lab’s license and the hospital closed. Also, a Louisiana pathology group is finding success as a robust laboratory consulting business.

View Issue TOC

Volume XIX No. – October 8, 2012

In this issue:

WITH THE CURRENT unprecedented growth rates for molecular testing, pathology groups and clinical labs will need to beef up their information systems if they want to capitalize on this trend. They will also need to recruit lab staff who are skilled in interpreting molecular and genetic test data expressly to advise and consult with referring physicians. Also, in the wake of a recent IOM report, a new byword coming to healthcare in the US is the “continuously-learning healthcare system.”

View Issue TOC

Volume XIX No. 13 – September 17, 2012

In this issue:

LABORATORIES AROUND THE COUNTRY are up in arms about Medicare’s policy shift on prostate biopsy billing, with those who have submitted for more than five cores at increased risk for auditing, and most unsure how to bill for those five or more tests, with answers and solutions to the problem still nonexistent. Also, a new study urges Medicare to consider — again — the idea of competitive bidding for Part B clinical lab testing.

View Issue TOC

Volume XIX No. 12 – August 27, 2012

In this issue:

IN PART 2 OF THE SERIES, we report on how pathologists at the medical schools of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) are exchanging cases and sharing knowledge. During the first 18 months of this unique relationship, the volume of cases shared via digital pathology has grown steadily. Also, a new under-the-radar Medicare policy change will impact prostate biopsy claims.

View Issue TOC

Don’t Be at the Mercy of the Tumultuous Healthcare Revolution

Subscribe to The Dark Report for as little as $15.27 per week.

Get the most expert business intelligence for clinical laboratories and pathology groups available today. Subscribe to The Dark Report.

Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
First name*
Last name*
Email*
Job Title*
Company Name*
Phone
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
You’ll also receive the latest issue of our FREE newsletter, The Dark Report Insider, every three weeks!
Membership Plans*
- Platinum Membership
  
  Get digital and print editions of The Dark Report for only $22.97 per week. Plus a Free bonus Executive Briefing
  Print Edition, Web Edition, and Web Archive
- Digital Membership
  
  Get web access of The Dark Report for only $19.12 per week. Plus a Free bonus Executive Briefing
  Web Edition and Web Archive
- Print Membership
  
  Get a hard copy of The Dark Report delivered to your home for only $15.27 per week. Plus a Free bonus Executive Briefing *Offer valid in the United States and Canada only.
  Print Edition (US & Canada Only)

CURRENT ISSUE

Volume XXXII, No. 14 – October 6, 2025

The Dark Report examines increasing healthcare costs for employers and how clinical labs can help those employers. Also, an in-depth case study shows how one hospital system regained its outreach program after originally ceding it to a national lab company, adding millions to the system’s bottom line.

See the full table of contents

How Much Laboratory Business Intelligence Have You Missed?

Lab leaders rely on THE DARK REPORT for actionable intelligence on important developments in the business of laboratory testing. Maximize the money you make-and the money you keep! Best of all, it is released every three weeks!

Need A Group Membership? Company Discounts are Available!

Sign up for TDR Insider

Join the Dark Intelligence Group FREE and get TDR Insider FREE!
Never miss a single update on the issues that matter to you and your business.

Topics

Visit The Dark Library