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 other legal news FDA oversight of in vitro diagnostics, blood banks, and radiological devices OSHA, NRC, and state safety standards.
Eight national laboratory and pathology professional and scientific groups have urged congressional leaders to act quickly to restore the pathology grandfather protection that expired Dec. 31, 2009, saying it is needed to maintain quality testing and access to testing by Medicare beneficiaries, especially in rural areas.
As of March 1, the freeze on the update to Medicare physician payments that began Jan. 1 comes to an end, and pathologists and other physicians are wondering what happens next.
President Obamas budget request for fiscal year 2011, released Feb. 1, includes a total of $911 billion for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
We put this question to the top CLIA official, Judy Yost, director of laboratory services at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), who listed some of the key projects (in no particular order) for this year, along with numerous others as well as ongoing responsibilities associated with managing this program.
The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to its ruling last year that lab analysts and other forensic specialists must be available to testify in person at trials.
National Intelligence Report is part of...