By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXV No. 11 – July 30, 2018 issue
Clinical labs and physicians can soon say goodbye to “meaningful use.” Federal officials are proposing a significant change to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive program for certified EHRs that has been in existence since 2011. In a press release issued last spring, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule.
By maryv, from the Volume XXV No. 7 – May 7, 2018 issue
This is an excerpt from a 2,920-word article in the May 7, 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: In an insightful report, THE DARK REPORT shows how one lab
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXV No. 7 – May 7, 2018 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Over the 24 months of a first-generation round of laboratory test utilization management projects, the Cleveland Clinic laboratories prevented more than 30,000 duplicate or inappropriate test orders, saving almost $2.7 million. Now implementing a second-generation of labtest utilization projects, the lab’s seven-year effort has prevented 160,072 tests and saved more than $5 million.
By Jon Stone, from the Volume XXIV, No. 16 – November 20, 2017 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Market clearance of the first-ever CLIA-waived analyzer for complete blood count and three-part differential tests could cut time-to-answer from days to mere minutes for one of the top 20 tests by volume performed at core laboratories. Developer Sysmex America, Inc., foresees its analyzer as a complement to central labs. Basic diagnostics would be
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXIV, No. 16 – November 20, 2017 issue
CEO SUMMARY: With each passing year, the primary role of hospital and health system labs evolves in a different direction than that of independent lab companies. This trend is a response to the creation of integrated delivery networks paid on value and how they are scored on their ability to keep patients out of hospitals
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXIV, No. 15 – October 30, 2017 issue
CEO SUMMARY: In more than 40 presentations by 55 speakers, two big themes dominated the 11th annual Lab Quality Confab in New Orleans last week. One theme is the urgent need to cut clinical laboratory costs. The second theme is the need for both clinical labs and anatomic pathology groups to deliver more value to
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXIV, No. 12 – August 28, 2017 issue
AFTER SEVERAL LABS SPOKE about the difficulties in working with the new Anthem/AIM Specialty Heath prior-authorization program for genetic tests, THE DARK REPORT sent questions to Anthem. Responses from Anthem/AIM were lengthy and have been edited to fit the available space:
Q: Is it true that labs cannot assist physicians in ordering tests through the Anthem/AIM program?
A:
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXIV, No. 10 – July 17, 2017 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Quest Diagnostics is no longer an equity partner in the CompuNet Clinical Laboratory joint venture, which has operated successfully since its founding in 1986. Typical of other lab JVs and inpatient lab management agreements that the hospital or health system partners do not renew, none of the owners of CompuNet will comment on
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXIV, No. 8 – June 5, 2017 issue
INNOVATIVE CLINICAL LABS are making significant changes to accommodate the shift from volume to values. In one change, they are collaborating with clinicians to use lab test data to improve patient outcomes.
In another, they are collecting the clinical data from these efforts to publish the outcomes in peer-reviewed medical journals to spread the word about
By Bill Dugan, from the Volume XXIV, No. 4 – March 13, 2017 issue
This is an excerpt from a 1,021-word article in the March 13, 2017, 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: Is this year’s early spate of deals involving the sales of hospital lab outreach
