By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXV No. 7 – May 7, 2018 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Innovative clinical labs and pathology groups are absorbing this year’s Medicare Part B price cuts while continuing to pursue opportunities to add value. A common theme from many speakers at last week’s Executive War College in New Orleans is that the lab must get mastery of its LIS and informatics specifically to enable
This is an excerpt from a 2,920-word article in the March 26, 2018, issue of THE DARK REPORT. The complete article is available for a limited time to all readers, and available at all times to paid members of the Dark Intelligence Group.
CEO SUMMARY: Here’s the first look for the lab industry at an important
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXV No. 5 – March 26, 2018 issue
CEO SUMMARY: A disruptive force that involves precision medicine, pharmaceutical companies, and venture capital investors is poised to reshape the clinical laboratory industry. Genetic knowledge makes it possible to match cancer drugs to specific mutations. Pharma companies and professional investors recognize that control of diagnostic technologies and companion diagnostic tests enable them to gain better access
By R. Lewis Dark, from the Volume XXV No. 5 – March 26, 2018 issue
THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING within the house of laboratory medicine than to survey current news. Understanding why and how breaking news stories are indicators of deeply-rooted and forceful trends is essential for lab administrators and pathologists who want to keep their labs positioned to offer sophisticated and financially-sustainable
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXIV, No. 9 – June 26, 2017 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Pre-authorization of genetic tests is coming to physicians serving patients insured by Anthem, Inc. Its specialty benefits management company, AIM Specialty Health, will manage the program. AIM will work with InformedDNA, a company that specializes in genetic testing clinical decision support and genetic counseling for health insurers. Anthem has about 40 million members
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXIII No. 10 – July 25, 2016 issue
Throughout the profession of laboratory medicine, concern is surfacing following publication of a proposed rule by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that would expand the authority of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to supervise and perform laboratory testing. This rule would expand APRNs’ authority, currently limited to ordering and interpreting lab tests. In an
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXII No. 12 - August 24, 2015 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Clinical labs are beginning to make the transition from a volume-based financial model to a model based on value-based payments. To survive this transition, labs must find ways to create value. The lab at Henry Ford Health System has identified 10 ways that it can contribute more value to physicians and its parent health system. One way is to help eliminate needless tests and processes. Other initiatives involve improving supplier processes, helping to reduce patient length of stay, creating a lab test formulary, and demonstrating the financial efficacy of all lab interventio
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXII NO. 11 - August 3, 2015 issue
CEO SUMMARY: For clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups willing to adapt to the evolving needs of the American healthcare system, there are many positive opportunities. That’s the view of a Wall Street investment bank that just published a report on the lab testing sector. The report on healthcare trends includes commentary about developments in cancer care, acceptance of personalized medicine, and the growing activity in direct-to-consumer lab testing.
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXII NO. 9 - June 22, 2015 issue
CEO SUMMARY: It’s a case of the little fish gobbling the big fish, as Opko Health—with revenue of $91 million—will be acquiring Bio-Reference Laboratories, with revenue of $832 million. But the more interesting aspect of the story is that the CEO of Opko Health is a physician worth $5 billion and highly respected by Wall Street. It could be that Bio-Reference CEO Marc Grodman, M.D., has gained a shrewd advisor and powerful ally in Phillip Frost, M.D., the Chair and CEO of Opko Health.
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXII NO. 3 - February 17, 2015 issue
GeneCentric is a new lab testing company in Durham, North Carolina that was started by former executives of Laboratory Corporation of America. It intends to raise $20 million in a Series B capital offering. GeneCentric’s business model is to license molecular diagnostic tests, then develop the clinical trial data required to obtain coverage guidelines and
