Issues Archive

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

Volume XX No. 12 – September 9, 2013

In this issue:

IN JULY, THE FEDERAL Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published three proposed rules which would allow it to act independently of Congress to set prices for clinical laboratory testing and pathology services. Analyses of these proposed rules indicate that they would substantially reduce reimbursement paid to labs and pathologists under existing arrangements. Some industry attorneys point out that these rules are likely to go beyond the agency’s existing legal authority.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 11 – August 13, 2013

In this issue:

CIGNA HAS LAUNCHED a program that requires genetic counseling for patients and pre-authorization of genetic tests with its partner, InformedDNA, a firm that provides genetic counseling services. The goals include better patient engagement, improved test utilization, and a process to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of new genetic tests. Cigna customers getting genetic tests for breast cancer, colon cancer, and the long QT syndrome will be provided with genetic counseling. Also, investigators are starting to target fraud in the pain management market, including rehab clinics in California and clinical labs in Massachusetts.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 10 – July 29, 2013

In this issue:

ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS (ACOs) are already leading the shift from fee-for-service reimbursement to population payment. ACOs are leading healthcare’s evolution to preventive care, wellness, and better management of patients with chronic disease. This evolution will require that all providers, including clinical laboratories, must shift from delivering volume to producing value. In Phoenix, Arizona, Sonora Quest Laboratories has already entered into contracts with multiple ACOs. Its CEO shares insights about the process and early lessons learned. Also, four New Jersey doctors plead guilty to taking bribes from laboratories.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 9 – July 8, 2013

In this issue:

FIVE MONTHS AFTER IT STOPPED getting payment for its molecular diagnostic test claims that were covered by the new molecular test CPT codes, Predictive Biosciences (PB) of Lexington, Massachusetts, closed its doors for good. Its financial collapse was due to the mishandling of the new CPT codes by the Medicare program, according to the company’s CEO. More than 10,000 patients are now without a test for bladder cancer as a result of a single non-coverage decision by one Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). Further, these patients will now likely undergo an invasive diagnostic procedure. And when they do pay, these contractors are now paying less than they paid for the same tests last year.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 8 – June 17, 2013

In this issue:

A SERIES OF BREAKING NEWS STORIES points to more rough waters ahead for the entire clinical lab industry. Of greatest interest is the ongoing question about when clinical labs and pathology groups will get paid for the molecular test claims they have submitted to government and private payers since January 1, 2013. Some payments are beginning to flow for claims submitted under the new molecular test CPT codes, but Medicare contractors, Medicaid programs, and private health insurers are requesting that labs submit more documentation before they will pay for the molecular test claims. Also, in another surprise news event, a federal government report that says Medicare could save $910 billion annually by repricing lab tests.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 7 – May 28, 2013

In this issue:

HAVING GONE UNPAID since January 1 for the 114 new molecular CPT codes, many clinical labs and pathology groups have stopped running these tests or laid off staff. Some are considering closing their doors. Evidence indicates that certain Medicare contractors are deciding that some molecular tests are not medically necessary. Meanwhile, reimbursement was just one of many reasons for the closure of Pathwork Diagnostics last month.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 6 – May 6, 2013

In this issue:

EXECUTIVE WAR COLLEGE SESSIONS centered on three trends: declining lab reimbursements, the need for clinical labs and pathology groups to convert lab test data into information that adds value to physicians and patients, and the rate of change in healthcare and the fact that this rate of change is accelerating. Also, a hospital lab and pharmacy team in Houston have teamed up to speed targeted treatment of blood infections, successfully reducing the average length of stay by 2.6 days and generating an estimated annual savings from this intervention of some $18 million.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 5 – April 15, 2013

In this issue:

CLINICAL LABORATORIES COMPLAIN that implementation of a new payment system for molecular tests has been a disaster since January 1. Most contractors for the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have not paid labs for molecular tests billed this year. Billing experts indicate that many commercial plans are not paying either. Groups representing labs have asked CMS to make changes to the new payment system to smooth implementation and make it more transparent. Also, one lab CEO urges his peers to be proactive during this crisis.

View Issue TOC

Volume XX No. 4 – March 25, 2013

In this issue:

MASS SPECTROMETRY, a diagnostic technology that is transforming clinical labs and improving care at a rapid pace, includes new instruments capable of supporting a faster time-to-answer and provides improved accuracy and specificity over many existing methods. For certain clinical assays, mass spec also can cost less per test than conventional testing methods. Advocates of mass spectrometry predict a bright future for its use in clinical diagnostics in both the U.S. and Europe.

View Issue TOC

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

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.

URL
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. 13 – September 15, 2025

The Dark Report examines a new bill that would reform PAMA and avoid reimbursement rate cuts scheduled for January 2026. Clinical laboratory leaders are urged to make their voices heard in Congress. Also, an expert describes how labs can fix pre-analytical errors and avoid disaster.

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