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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.
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 | NIR November 10, 2008 (full PDF issue) |
| CMS to apply anti-markup rules for Medicare diagnostic tests
Results for Life campaign shines new light on genetic testing and policy ramifications
—Why education matters
—Range and types of genetic tests
—Use in disease prevention, prediction of risk
—Benefits of personalized medicine, tailoring care to the individuals’ genetic profile
NPI advisory: Use of NPI for out-of-jurisdiction purchased screening mammograms and diagnostic tests
Medicare coverage advisory: Changes in 2009 to the ‘Welcome to Medicare’ preventive physical exam
CLIAC adopts ‘good lab practices’ report for molecular diagnostics and genetic testing
Upcoming G-2 Conferences: LabCompete Sales & Marketing, Dec. 10-12;
Business & Financial Strategies for Molecular Diagnostics, Feb. 2-4, 2009
Full Article |
| Medicare Physician Fees to Rise 1.1 Percent in 2009 |
| Starting Jan. 1, pathologists and others paid under the Medicare Part B physician fee schedule will get on average a 1.1 percent increase in payments for covered services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced in a final rule released Oct. 30 and due to be published in the Nov. 19 Federal Register.
Full Article |
| Obama Era Promises New Initiatives in Health Care |
| With a landslide victory in both the electoral and the popular vote and solid Democratic gains in the House and the Senate, President-elect Barack Obama is poised to deliver on his campaign pledge to work for health care reform.
Full Article |
| CMS Finalizes Anti-Markup Rules for Diagnostic Testing |
| In the final 2009 Medicare physician fee schedule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that it will start applying anti-markup rules to diagnostic testing services (other than clinical lab services) billed by physicians and suppliers, as of Jan. 1.
Full Article |
| Spotlight on Genetic Testing in Front-Line Health Care |
| Against the backdrop of evolving federal policy, the nonprofit group, Results for Life, held an Oct. 28 briefing to answer three main questions on genetic testing: What is it, how does it work, and why does it matter? The group is composed of laboratory professionals, clinical labs, and test manufacturers.
Full Article |
| NPI Advisory: Out-of-Jurisdiction Screening Mammograms, Diagnostic Services |
| Effective Dec. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will establish an exception to the standard reporting of the national provider identifier (NPI) on certain Medicare fee-for-service claims for purchased mammography screening and diagnostic services (Change Request 6237, Oct. 31, 2008).
Full Article |
| Medicare Coverage Advisory: Major Changes Ahead for ‘Welcome to Medicare’ Physical |
| Effective Jan. 1, the initial preventive physical examination covered by Medicare Part B has been expanded and the annual deductible is waived, though beneficiaries remain liable for the 20 percent copay, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has alerted its contractors (Change Request 6223, Oct. 17, 2008).
Full Article |
| New Guidance From CLIAC on Good Lab Practices |
| Clinical laboratories can look forward to new guidance on molecular and genetic testing now that the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC), which advises the government on CLIA scientific and technical matters, has adopted a workgroup report on good lab practices in this rapidly expanding area of medicine. The report, adopted at the panel’s September meeting in Atlanta, will be published in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report later this year or in early 2009.
Full Article |
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