By Mary Van Doren, from the Volume XXVI No. 12 – September 3, 2019 issue
This is a synopsis of two in-depth articles in the Sept. 3, 2019 issue of THE DARK REPORT (TDR). The full articles are available to members of The Dark Intelligence Group.
CEO SUMMARY: Since April, 2019, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken steps that target clinical laboratories that perform pharmacogenetic (PGx) tests. In
By R. Lewis Dark, from the Volume XXVI No. 12 – September 3, 2019 issue
IT MAY NOT BE A COINCIDENCE THAT MANY RECENT NEWS CYCLES have more negative pathology news than positive pathology news. After all, laboratory medicine is at the core of most clinical care delivered to patients, so it’s no coincidence that pathology—both clinical and anatomic—is a prime target for government and private payers, along with federal investigators.
The
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 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
This is an excerpt of a 2,576-word article in the July 22, 2019 issue of THE DARK REPORT (TDR). The full articles are available to members of The Dark Intelligence Group.
CEO SUMMARY: Within five years, members of the millennial generation will make up 75% of the physician workforce in the United States,according to a recently
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
By R. Lewis Dark, from the Volume XXVI No. 10 – July 22, 2019 issue
Due to medical errors, three patients died in three Houston hospitals in a short period of time. Each adverse event led to inspections by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and sanctions as tough as revocation of deemed status for participation in the Medicare program.
That these events came so closely together, at
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXVI No. 9 – July 1, 2019 issue
In Houston, news outlets report that MD Anderson Cancer Center was cited for serious deficiencies and the potential for patient harm, following inspections by officials from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Texas Department of State Health Services. After an adverse patient event involving transfusion services that occurred in December,
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 9 – July 1, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Following news last month about the biggest breach of personal health information in the clinical lab industry, lawyers representing some of the affected patients filed at least 12 class action lawsuits. Federal officials and attorneys general in multiple states also launched investigations. The breach occurred when hackers gained access to the data systems
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXVI No. 9 – July 1, 2019 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Anthem is making big changes to its relationships with anatomic pathology groups. Getting most of the attention at the moment are the insurer’s letters announcing price cuts for anatomic pathology services of 50% to 70% of Medicare fees. But another major change may also trigger negative consequences for pathologists. Anthem is moving pathology
