TAG:
molecular tests
Tricare, DOD Not Paying for MoPath Codes, LDTs
By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXI No. 1 – January 13, 2014 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: It turns out that labs serving Tricare patients are going unpaid for certain LDTs, molecular, and genetic tests. The issue of nonpayment began in January 2013 when Tricare stopped paying for these tests that were billed under the new molecular CPT codes that replaced the prev…
2013’s Top Ten Lab Stories Point to Tougher Times
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XX, No. 17 – December 23, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: For 2013, the big story was money—or, more accurately, less money for providers. This was not limited to clinical labs and pathology groups, but was equally true of hospitals and physicians. In THE DARK REPORT’S annual lookback at the year’s 10…
Medicare Price Cuts Drive Labs to Sell or File BK
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XX No. 15 – November 11, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: Professional investors are smart with their money. Thus, it is no surprise that clinical lab and pathology companies owned by private equity firms are the first to be sold or closed. These investors are acting in response to the cumulative negative financial impact of recent …
Two Blood Brothers Report Declines in Revenue-Per-Req
By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XX No.14 – October 21, 2013 Issue
REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLINICAL laboratory testing has declined, particularly for molecular tests. As a consequence, the nation’s two largest laboratory testing companies are feeling the negative effect of lower lab test prices. Both Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and Laborator…
Labs Push to Cut Costs As Budgets, Prices Shrink
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XX No. 11 – August 13, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: Cost-cutting is now the prime directive at progressive labs because nearly every laboratory organization in the United States is under sustained financial pressure. This is due to shrinking budgets for hospital labs and more aggressive price-cutting by private payers. Even Ob…
Cigna Program Addresses Genetic Test Utilization
By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XX No. 11 – August 13, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: Cigna launched a program that requires genetic counseling for patients and pre-authorization of genetic tests. Its partner is InformedDNA, a firm that provides genetic counseling services. The goals include better patient engagement, improved test utilization…
Report Shows Price Drop for Most Molecular Tests
By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XX No. 9 – July 8, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: In recent weeks, labs are reporting that Medicare contractors have begun to issue payments for molecular test claims filed—but unpaid—since January 1, 2013. A newly-issued analysis of this situation by Quorum Consulting indicates that, for many molecular assays, Medicare …
Medicare Contractor’s Ruling on MolDx Test Causes Lab to Close
By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XX No. 9 – July 8, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: On May 14, Predictive Biosciences learned that its Medicare contractor had determined that one of its three molecular tests for bladder cancer was a screening test. It also never got a determination on its other two molecular tests. Because Medicare is half of the lab’s pay…
Labs Face Consequences from MolDx Test ‘Mess’
By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XX No. 8 – June 17, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: Non-payment of molecular test claims for the first five months of 2013 is not the only financial disruption for labs that perform these tests. Reports are coming in about how Medicare contractors, Medicaid programs, and private payers are declining to pay claims based on ruli…
Labs Have New Hurdles as Some Payments Start
By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XX No. 8 – June 17, 2013 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: Some payments are beginning to flow for claims submitted under the new molecular test CPT codes. But there is a new issue. Medicare contractors, Medicaid programs, and private health insurers are deeming certain molecular tests to be medically unnecessary. Th…
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Volume XXXII, No. 6 – April 21, 2025
Now that a federal judge has vacated the FDA’s LDT rule, The Dark Report analyzes the judgement and notes the various steps the FDA could take in response. Also, lab testing at pharmacies is proving to be less successful than was once anticipated.
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