Archive for the 'Industry Trends' Category
On August 25, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a guide to assists stakeholders with better understanding the processes used to determine coverage, coding and payment for new technologies under the Medicare program. Read the rest of this entry »
In the August 22, 2008 Federal Register, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed rule that would replace ICD-9 code sets with ICD-10 code sets effective October 1, 2011. Developed 30 years ago, ICD-9 has just 17,000 codes and is expected to run out of space as early as 2009. The ICD-10 sets contain more than 155,000 codes, which can accommodate a variety of new diagnoses and procedures. Read the rest of this entry »
On July 31, 2008, the “Clinical Laboratory Diagnostic Fee Schedule Modernization Act of 2008” (HR 6761) was introduced in an effort to modernize the clinical diagnostic laboratory fee schedule. Read the rest of this entry »
Public Comment Encouraged
Aug. 4 – Sept. 3, 2008
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has opened a National Coverage Analysis (NCA) to complete a thorough review of evidence to determine if the use of pharmacogenomic testing for warfarin is reasonable and necessary under the Medicare program. (https://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewtrackingsheet.asp?id=224) Read the rest of this entry »
On Friday, June 6, 2008, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (MT) introduced the “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.” The most significant provision impacting clinical laboratories is the repeal of the competitive bidding demonstration project. Read the rest of this entry »
On Tuesday, April 8, a United States judge ordered a preliminary injunction against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) competitive bidding demonstration in the San Diego-San Marcos-Carlsbad Metropolitan Statistical Area. The ruling was in response to a motion filed by three area laboratories seeking to stop the CMS from implementing the project. Read the rest of this entry »
The Clinical Laboratory Coalition (CLC) announced its support for a lawsuit filed today by San Diego area clinical laboratories and health systems in an attempt to stop the federal government from moving forward in its plan to limit San Diego laboratory services. The lawsuit also seeks to require public notice and comment on this project, as mandated by federal law. Read the rest of this entry »
On September 27, 2007, Senators Ken Salazar (CO) and Pat Roberts (KS) introduced the “Protecting Access to Clinical Laboratory Services Act of 2007 (S 2099). Read the rest of this entry »
On August 4, 2007, just before Congress recessed for the month of August, Representative Nydia Velazquez (NY), Chair of the Committee on Small Business, introduced “The Community Clinical Laboratory Fairness in Competition Act (HR 3453)”. This legislation would repeal the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Competitive Bidding Demonstration Project. Read the rest of this entry »
The Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (GINA) passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, by a vote of 420-3. The act will protect individuals against discrimination based on their genetic information when it comes to health insurance and employment. These protections are intended to encourage Americans to take advantage of genetic testing as part of their medical care. GINA has not been voted on in the Senate. The progress of GINA’s passage through the legislative process can be tracked online at www.genome.gov/24519851.