[Histonet] Grossing assistants

[Tench, Bill]

The "rules" are established by CMS through CLIA regulations.  They are
applied based on the "complexity" of the activity.  Grossing is
considered "high complexity" and thus is subject to rather stringent
rules (which become more complicated because there are "grandfather"
clauses).  For years, the CAP took a more "liberal" view of how various
parts of the grossing activity could be defined.  CMS reviews the CAP
standards.  So, the result is a "tightening" of those standards (ie,
don't blame the CAP for this one). The CAP has provided rather clear cut
guidelines, and if you find them confusing, then you may contact the LAP
program there and someone will assist you. You may ask the CAP to lobby
for you (which I suspect they have done) or you can appeal to CMS (which
will largely not listen to anything reasonable, and if it does, will
tell you it will take multiple years to make any changes).

Bill Tench
Associate Dir. Laboratory Services
Chief, Cytology Services
Palomar Medical Center
555 E. Valley Parkway
Escondido, California  92025
Bill.Tench <@t> pph.org
Voice: 760- 739-3037
Fax: 760-739-2604
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 17:46:58 -0400
From: Robert Richmond <rsrichmond <@t> gmail.com>
Subject: [Histonet] Re: Grossing Technician Qualifications
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
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Tanisha Neely HT(ASCP) asks: >>Are the guidelines for a tech who is
strictly limited to grossing
anatomic pathology specimens different than for those of a full time
histotech? Could a bachelor degree'd person with the right course work
qualify for this position? If so, does anyone have documentation of
this? I'd like to present this as a staffing option to my management
if possible.<<

Well, I'm giving a talk on the subject to the Tennessee Society for
Histotechnology meeting in Chattanooga, and I'm pretty confused about
the question of who's allowed to gross - the rules seem to be
changing, and different certifying organizations have different
requirements. If somebody can spell out in detail who it is that's
requiring what, I'd appreciate it.

Bob Richmond
Samurai Pathologist
Knoxville TN



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