Top Articles
Potential CMS Cuts to CPT 88305 Could Cost Pathology Groups Millions
Expert explains seemingly implausible surgical pathology billing volumes
CEO Summary: In a direct threat to practice revenue, CMS has proposed to reduce payments for surgical pathology CPT code 88305. Data from Maryland suggests the number of cases billed under the code for individual pathologists is not alw...
Mass Spectrometry Evolves for Clinical Laboratories
It’s not yet clear whether fine-tuned versions of the technology outweigh the costs
CEO Summary: Mass spectrometry may be ready for a wider audience within clinical laboratories, as the technology’s sensitivity and ease of use provide prime selling points for adoption. However, the expense of the systems, and flat re...
New Report Outlines Barriers to Alzheimer’s Blood Tests
Payer reluctance curbs adoption of new blood-based biomarker assays for the disease
CEO summary: Experts convened by the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, assessed the readiness of the US healthcare system to adopt blood-based markers to aid in diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. They identified payer accepta...
Missing Business Skills Undercut Young Pathologists
Robert Tessier of PNPL also suggests a way to increase digital pathology adoption
CEO Summary: While much attention is given to the plight of retiring pathologists, not enough awareness falls to the lack of business skills held by younger incoming pathologists who want to run a practice. One solution, says Robert Tes...
Labcorp Expands Reach into Rural and Native American Healthcare
Deal to acquire Tribal Diagnostics gives company provider relationships in underserved markets
CEO Summary: Clinical laboratories will want to note Labcorp’s expansion into rural healthcare through its recent acquisition of Native American-owned Tribal Diagnostics and new partnership with a community health center network....
Quest Diagnostics Earns $3 Billion in Q2, Its Best Quarter Ever
Driven by specialty and direct-to-consumer lab services, Quest and Labcorp increased test volumes
CEO Summary: Quest Diagnostics reported its best quarterly revenue in history, and Labcorp also logged a very successful Q2 2026. Both companies attributed growth to higher test requisition volumes and an increasing emphasis on specialt...
Don’t Let CMS Cap Future Top-Line Pathology Revenue
Regulators at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have demonstrated an uncanny ability to mistake standard group billing mechanics for systemic healthcare fraud. Driven in part by a flawed report from the Maryland Health Care Commission, CMS has proposed a 4% global payment cut to CPT code 88305 in the CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule. Worse, CMS is aski...
Don’t Be at the Mercy of the Tumultuous Healthcare Revolution
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CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXIII, No. 11 – September 2026
In the September 2026 briefing, The Dark Report digs into a CMS proposal to cut payments for CPT code 88305, potentially based on flawed thinking. Other coverage includes the evolving role of mass spectrometry in clinical labs, payer obstacles to blood-based biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s disease, and how young pathologists can get business skill help.
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