[Histonet] Charging for patient slide send out

[Julia Dahl]

As I've chimed in before - it's also a loss for the consulting pathologist.  Insurances typically pay for about 50% of the consultations that Mosaic GI Pathology sees - at an a rate significantly below the usual payment for the primary read... hence why consultants are switching to billing the institution.  

This certainly needs to be addressed on a broader scale.  An 88321 reimbursement should cover expenses for shipping TO the consultant, FROM the consultant back to the originating institution, overhead for handling the incoming case, report distribution and for the consultation.  The average reimbursement that we receive covers little more than shipping and administrative expenses.

Julia Dahl MD
Consulting GI Pathologist

> Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:45:04 -0400
> From: JWEEMS <@t> sjha.org
> To: Rcartun <@t> harthosp.org; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Charging for patient slide send out
> CC: 
> 
> We have patient pay shipping charge and have facilities that will bill pt ins for second opinion. So many consultants are changing to bill client only that it has really become a problem. j
> 
> Joyce Weems
> Pathology Manager
> Saint Joseph's Hospital 
> 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE
> Atlanta, GA 30342
> 404-851-7376 - Phone
> 404-851-7831 - Fax
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu]On Behalf Of Richard
> Cartun
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:37 PM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Charging for patient slide send out
> 
> 
> I know we have discussed this before, but how many of you in clinical pathology labs are doing direct patient billing (cash or credit card) for sending out patient slides for second opinions?  We are getting so many requests now we cannot keep up, and we certainly can't afford to do this for free.  At a minimum, I think the patient should pay the mailing charge.  Thank you.
> 
> Richard
> 
> Richard W. Cartun, Ph.D.
> Director, Immunopathology & Histology
> Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
> Hartford Hospital
> 80 Seymour Street
> Hartford, CT  06102
> (860) 545-1596
> (860) 545-0174 Fax
> 
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