By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXVI No. 13 – September 23, 2019 issue
Spectra Laboratories, a division of the national dialysis company Fresenius Medical Care, will soon open a new 200,000 square foot laboratory facility in Memphis. The new lab will employ more than 300 people and will be located only 15 minutes from the Memphis International Airport and the Memphis world hub operated by FedEx Corporation. The
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 13 – September 23, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: One association representing pathologists says new payment rates that Anthem, Inc., is introducing in 14 states do not cover the costs of performing anatomic pathology and clinical lab testing for the tests in question. Another association says the steep payment cuts threaten the viability of small and rural pathology groups. State-by-state, Anthem is
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 12 – September 3, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Consultants who work with anatomic pathologists have several theories about why Anthem is enacting deep cuts of 50% to 70% for the professional component of many anatomic pathology services. While they have different ideas about what motivates the nation’s second largest health insurer, they agree that such reductions in payments will have a
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 12 – September 3, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Some executives at pharmacogenetic testing companies are criticizing the federal Food and Drug Administration for its recent actions to exercise oversight over PGx testing. But there is more to the story, said one expert who is a past adviser to the FDA on clinical laboratory testing. One issue is how to educate physicians
This is a synopsis of three in-depth articles in the Aug. 12, 2019 issue of THE DARK REPORT (TDR). The full articles are available to members of The Dark Intelligence Group.
CEO SUMMARY: In 2017, an auditor for CMS alleged that True Health Diagnostics filed fraudulent claims and the federal Medicare program cut all payments to
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 11 – August 12, 2019 issue
IN A SIGNIFICANT WIN for the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) and other groups suing federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in the ACLA’s favor on July 30.
Ruling on the appeal in the case the ACLA brought against HHS Secretary Alex Azar
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXVI No. 11 – August 12, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: In 2017, an auditor for CMS alleged that True Health filed fraudulent claims and the federal Medicare program cut all payments to the lab company and one month later reduced the cut to 35% of the billed amount. Two months ago, CMS ended all payments again. These facts became public on July 2
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 11 – August 12, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Deep cuts in what Anthem pays pathologists for the professional component for certain AP services are having a harmful effect on the long-standing relationships that dermatologists have with dermatopathologists, some physicians say. By disrupting these relationships, Anthem is harming patient care, they add. Since late last year, in a growing number of states,
By R. Lewis Dark, from the Volume XXVI No. 11 – August 12, 2019 issue
ONCE AGAIN, A HIGH-PROFILE LAB COMPANY faces allegations of fraud and abuse. This time it is True Health Diagnostics of Frisco, Texas. Details of this case were revealed last month when True Health filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Texas against the agencies running the federal Medicare program.
In its lawsuit, True Health denies
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 10 – July 22, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: At MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, blood transfusion errors led to two patients’ deaths in separate incidents last fall. Then, this spring, a patient died in the emergency department of Ben Taub Hospital following “an ineffective process in patient monitoring and communication of critical lab values.” State and
