Major managed care companies United Healthcare and Aetna have now negotiated testing rates at a fraction of what Medicare pays under exclusive arrangements with the nation’s largest labs.

With discounting demands gripping the industry, the burning question is: what does this low-balling trend in pricing mean—and will its impact be limited or long-term?

Even as a new July 1 agreement takes effect between Aetna and Quest that excludes LabCorp as a preferred national provider, the industry is still fully digesting the impact of Quest’s earlier exclusion by United as part of its exclusive 10-year contract with LabCorp.

Underscoring the industry’s deepening concern that these recent developments could serve as a catalyst to significantly depress future lab payments in many areas nationwide, some contracted labs have now reportedly been told by United that reimbursement will be slashed even further.

Adding to the uproar surrounding lab discounting is a recent decision by the HHS Office of Inspector General to withdraw its almost 4-year old proposal to exclude labs & other Part B providers that charge Medicare substantially more than its usual charges to other payers.

During the program, you’ll

Assess the future of lab discounting in the wake of the OIG’s decision to axe a proposed rule covering excessive charges to Medicare

Understand legal issues relating to managed care pricing

Find out the latest information about the United & Aetna national lab agreements and their impact on pricing & local network labs

Discover how hospital outreach pricing is being affected by managed care

Learn about the outlook for lab pricing given the new manage care era

Gain insight on strategies that local labs are using in negotiating with managed care plans

For more information, please call 800-401-5937, ext. 2. Continuing education credit is available.

FEATURED SPEAKER:

David Nichols,
President & Founder, NMG

Michael Snyder,
Principal, Clinical Laboratory Solutions

W. Bradley Tully,
Partner, Hooper. Lundy & Bookman, Inc.

Host & Moderator:

Dennis Weisman,
President, Dennis Weissman & Associates, LLC and Founder & Executive Editor, Washington G-2 Reports