TAG:
UHC
Expect More Z-code Requirements for Genetic Tests
By R. Lewis Dark | From the Volume XXX, No. 9 – June 19, 2023 Issue
GENETIC TESTING COMPANIES ARE STILL REACTING TO LAST MONTH’S NEWS that one of the nation’s largest health insurers—UnitedHealthcare (UHC)—will require Z-codes for molecular test claims submitte…
For Labs, a Little Angel and Devil Sit Behind Z-Codes
By R. Lewis Dark | From the Volume XXX, No. 8 – May 30, 2023 Issue
Much lies underneath the surface of UnitedHealthcare’s (UHC) new policy mandating Z-code use for molecular tests covered under its commercial health plans. It’s a developme…
UHC’s Z-Code Requirement to Commence on Aug. 1
By Scott Wallask | From the Volume XXX, No. 8 – May 30, 2023 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: In what may be an alarming development for certain clinical laboratories, as of Aug. 1, UnitedHealthcare will require Z-codes for molecular test claims filed under its co…
UnitedHealthcare Policy Change Requires NPI Numbers on Medicare Advantage Claims
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXX, No. 8 – May 30, 2023 Issue
ANOTHER NEW POLICY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) sets a deadline for June 1, 2023, requiring clinical laboratories and other ancillary providers to include the …
Payers Request More Claims Documentation
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXX, No. 7 – May 8, 2023 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: Both anecdotal evidence from lab professionals and numbers-based data from XiFin point to a problem: More payers require clinical labs to produce more documentation that a test claim i…
Optum to Offer Laboratory Benefits Management to other Health Plans
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXIX, Number 9 – June 27, 2022 Issue
This is an excerpt of a 1,355-word article in the June 21, 2022 issue of THE DARK REPORT. The full article is available to members of The Dark Intelligence Group. CEO SUMMARY: UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum announced a new laboratory benefits management program aimed at impr…
UnitedHealth’s Optum to Offer Lab Test Management
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXIX, Number 9 – June 27, 2022 Issue
CEO SUMMARY: UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum announced a new laboratory benefits management program aimed at improving utilization of genetic/molecular clinical laboratory testing. The goal is to save health plans money while bringing genetic test validity data prominently into …
UnitedHealth’s Lab Test Registry Implementation Delayed Again
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXVIII, No. 14 – October 18, 2021 Issue
ANOTHER DELAY WAS ANNOUNCED FOR IMPLEMENTATION of UnitedHealthcare’s Laboratory Test Registry Protocol, which requires clinical laboratories to register each of their tests with the health insurer. This latest delay likely is the result of operational issues on behalf of the managed care com…
How to Achieve Success with Genetic Test Prior Authorization
By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXVIII, No. 10 – July 26, 2021 Issue
AS MANAGED CARE PAYERS INCREASINGLY REQUIRE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOC GENETIC TESTS, clinical laboratories should understand the ins and outs of what it takes to get reimbursed for testing they provide. Almost all payers now require prior authorization (P…
Interesting New Surprises for Lab Leaders
By R. Lewis Dark | From the Volume XXVIII, No. 9 – July 6, 2021 Issue
Unexpected and surprising things continue to happen in the clinical laboratory industry. You might consider that to be one unifying theme to the intelligence briefings we present in this issue of The Dark Report. For example, a…
CURRENT ISSUE

Volume XXXII, No. 9 – June 23, 2025
In part one of an analysis about the state of AI in clinical laboratories, The Dark Report explores how frontline workers, especially younger ones, are using AI tools like ChatGPT far more than lab leaders. Recent reports elsewhere in the business world show executives underestimate staff AI use, raising concerns about a leadership gap in tech adoption. Clinical lab leaders must get more familiar with AI use cases. Also, in this issue of The Dark Report, there is discussion on how Medicaid cuts may affect clinical labs, an examination of the lab industry fallout from CLIAC termination, an analysis of AMP’s reports that provide crucial insights for Hiring Managers, and notes that regional health systems are new dominant players in M&A.
See the full table of contentsHow Much Laboratory Business Intelligence Have You Missed?
Lab leaders rely on THE DARK REPORT for actionable intelligence on important developments in the business of laboratory testing. Maximize the money you make-and the money you keep! Best of all, it is released every three weeks!
Sign up for TDR Insider
Join the Dark Intelligence Group FREE and get TDR Insider FREE!
Never miss a single update on the issues that matter to you and your business.
Topics
- Anatomic Pathology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Clinical Laboratory
- Clinical Laboratory Trends
- Digital Pathology
- Genetic Testing
- In Vitro Diagnostics
- IVD/Lab Informatics
- Lab Intelligence
- Lab Marketplace
- Lab Risk & Compliance
- Laboratory Automation
- Laboratory Billing
- Laboratory Compliance
- Laboratory Equipment
- Laboratory Information Systems
- Laboratory Management
- Lean Six Sigma
- Managed Care Contracts
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Pathology Trends
- People
- Uncategorized