Subscribe Now
 Already a subscriber? Log-in!
This biweekly newsletter provides concise, independent coverage and analysis of fast-breaking lab, pathology, blood banking, imaging and diagnostic radiology news from the Nation's Capital.
You'll find out about:
- Medicare payment and policy directives Billing guidelines and coding changes for diagnostic facilities
- CLIA & MQSA regulatory mandates, changes and interpretations
- Congressional actions & legislative initiatives
- Federal compliance requirements
- OIG anti-fraud initiatives
- Stark self-referral prohibitions
Plus you will get other legal news regarding FDA oversight of in vitro diagnostics, blood banks, and radiological devices OSHA, NRC, and state safety standards.
|
|
|
 |
 | NIR November 20, 2006 (full PDF issue) |
| Stored specimens: CMS revises date of service policy
Senate bill introduced to scrap current CLIA cytology PT program
Outlook for health policy after the midterm election upset—see Focus
—Physician fee fix
—‘Grandfather’ protection for pathology TC billings
—HIT and e-health legislation
—New leadership lineup on key health committees
—Democrats outline top healthcare priorities
Coverage Advisory
—ICD-9 changes to lab national coverage polices
—How introduction of ‘means-testing’ will impact Part B premium
Annual Medicare enrollment period open through Dec. 31
Join us for our special LabCompete conference, December 6-8
Full Article |
| CMS Finalizes Rules for Pricing New Lab Tests |
| As required by the 2003 Medicare reform law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has codified in final regulations a process for obtaining public input on how fees are established for new test codes added to the Part B lab fee schedule each year. The agency announced the codification in the final 2007 Medicare physician fee schedule released November 1.
Full Article |
| Time Running Out for Medicare Physician Fee Fix |
| Physician lobbies are intensifying their push to get Congress to act during the post-election "lame duck" session to prevent a 5% cut in Medicare physician fees scheduled to begin January 1, 2007. And there’s only a short time left to achieve this goal.
Full Article |
| Date of Service Revised for Stored Specimens |
| Medicare’s general policy on the date of service (DOS) for clinical laboratory tests is the date the specimen was collected—or if collected over two calendar days, the date the collection ended. For lab tests that use a stored ("archived") specimen, the DOS generally is the date the specimen was obtained from storage.
Full Article |
| Senate Bill Introduced to Replace CLIA Cytology PT |
| Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) on November 15 introduced legislation that would replace the existing cytology proficiency testing program under CLIA (the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments). Isakson is a member of the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee. His bill, S. 4056, mirrors House legislation (H.R. 6133) introduced in September by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA).
Full Article |
| Outlook for Health Priorities in Congressional Power Shift |
| Flush from their victory in this month’s midterm elections, Democratic health leaders have been airing a host of healthcare policy changes they want to make when they take control of the 110th Congress in January. But the GOP will still have a major say in what legislation gets enacted, given the Democrats’ narrow majority and the President’s veto power.
Full Article |
| Wealthier Seniors to Pay More in ’07 Premiums |
| Starting January 1, 2007, the Medicare Part B monthly premium will be subject to means-testing for the first time, as required by the 2003 Medicare reform law. The higher a beneficiary’s annual income, the more he or she will pay in premiums for the standard healthcare benefit. An estimated four to five million beneficiaries will pay more than the base amount next year, says the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Full Article |
| ICD-9 Changes to National Policies for Lab Tests |
| Effective January 1, 2007, Medicare will cover additional ICD-9 diagnosis codes under its National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) for 23 of the most frequently ordered clinical laboratory tests. For lab tests covered under the NCDs to be payable, active valid ICD-9 codes must be used on Part B lab claims to document that the testing is medically necessary. Lab billing systems should implement the 2007 update as of January 1. There is no grace period to shift to new codes.
Full Article |
| Medicare Opens Enrollment Period for 2007 |
| November 15 is the start date for eligible physicians, practitioners, and suppliers to enroll in, or terminate their enrollment in, the Medicare participation program for 2007. The decision must be made by December 31 of this year. Those who currently participate and wish to continue to do so need take no action.
Full Article |
|
|
Please choose an archived issue to view newsletter table of contents above
|
|
