[Histonet] Aetna requiring CAP accreditation for non-hospital labs

Mon Apr 9 07:54:42 CDT 2012

I know many certified techs in independent labs and I know for a fact that at least two of them are CAP certified. I can see where an insurance company would want a lab that is doing work that will determine a patient treatment to be on the up and up. I work in cancer research and as the lab for ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group)of which many of you submit blocks to for patients on clinical trials. We are in our CAP window right now (so the bosses are stressed). We are all registered techs. And our work can determine chemo arm, future treatments (archival blocks are used for new therapies). Don't mess with us techs not in a hospital. I did it for 20 years.
Bernice

Bernice Frederick HTL (ASCP)
Senior Research Tech
Pathology Core Facility
ECOGPCO-RL
Robert. H. Lurie Cancer Center
Northwestern University
710 N Fairbanks Court
Olson 8-421
Chicago,IL 60611
312-503-3723
b-frederick <@t> northwestern.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Nicole Tatum
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 7:29 AM
To: Davide Costanzo; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Aetna requiring CAP accreditation for non-hospital labs

Wow David,

I strongly disagree with you. I happen to work and run at Dermatopathology lab and I am a licensed Histotechnologist. I have worked in the field for twelve years and I produce the same quality of work that I would if I was in a hospital. I also have to comply with the same state and CLIA rules you do. If not we woundlt be "treading on thim ice" we would be closed down. CLIA would not let my facility remain open if I was not producing the quality of work expected from all histology laboratories. Also, I cannt believe you would want our labs closed down. Do you know how many of YOUR FELLOW histologist you would put out of work. David is such a team player!!!! In reguards to stark laws. Maybe you should read what it actually means!!!! We only process specimens within our our facility and our slides ARE read by a licensed dermatopathologist. So, please tell me how my work is any less important than ur hospital job? And let me tell you this about my mediocker job. I work M-F 9-5. no weekends and no on-call. I also have full benefits and 401K. So, Im sorry that you feel our labs are some how underqualified, but I would not go back to hospital work, to save my life. Thanks for having my back, your fellow histologist.

Nicole Tatum, HT ASCP

This is a fascinating thread!!
>
> So what are your thoughts on this - It would appear that, if other 
> insurers follow suit, this could pose a huge burden on dermatologists 
> that do their own tissue processing, and all the GI labs across the 
> country that are popping up doing their own in-house histology. It may 
> be hard, and in some cases not possible for those labs to become CAP 
> accredited.
>
> In my opinion, that would be a great thing, to see all those physician 
> offices doing histology close their lab doors, and focus on thier own 
> specialty rather than invade the pathology world from which they were 
> not trained. It would seem, to the average witness, that these 
> facilities are treading on very thin ice as it is. It certainly does 
> appear to be a violation of Stark laws that were created for a very 
> good reason. In addition, these offices have stolen the "bread and 
> butter" from large labs, and hospital pathology departments and left 
> behind the far less profitable work. It would be nice to see that work 
> return to the place it belongs - in Pathology laboratories.
>
> It may be a pipe dream at this point, but who knows - maybe this is 
> the start of a very, very good thing.
>
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 6, 2012 at 2:56 PM, Kim Donadio
> <one_angel_secret <@t> yahoo.com>wrote:
>
>> Yikes I just 2 sec ago said that lol
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Apr 6, 2012, at 4:51 PM, Jesus Ellin <JEllin <@t> yumaregional.org> wrote:
>>
>> > There are several frame of minds here, but most closely this aligns
>> with
>> the affordable care act and quality outcomes for patients.  I to 
>> agree with the statement that other agencies can provide good quality 
>> outcomes, but Anatomic pathology is changing so rapidly.  From all 
>> aspects, but if you look at who bills for most of the CMS testing it 
>> falls under hospital based laboratories, yet the government decides 
>> reimbursement based on what the large labs make..  In the end we are 
>> seeing consolidation,, but I hope someone comes to the forefront to 
>> speak for us all.
>> > Sent from my iPad
>> > On Apr 6, 2012, at 1:41 PM, "Carol Torrence" <ctorrence <@t> kmcpa.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> I too have been through many CAP inspections in the past. Passing 
>> >> is
>> not my
>> >> concern - how about expense, prep time, time away to inspect a peer.
>>  We
>> >> are a small private lab also so this a bit of a pain.  There is no
>> way
>> that
>> >> CAP will be able to accommodate the workload that will ensue if 
>> >> this
>> becomes
>> >> a trend. Which I think it will and there will be more insurance
>> companies
>> >> aligning themselves with the larger labs as "preferred".  My fear 
>> >> is
>> that
>> >> local healthcare will be so undercut that it will become more
>> difficult
>> if
>> >> not impossible for even hospital labs to compete. I will never be
>> convinced
>> >> that big is better.
>> >>
>> >> I believe Aetna will hear from CAP on this issue due to the 
>> >> increased workload to them...deadlines may have to be extended.  
>> >> We are hearing
>> from a
>> >> CAP member that they will not be able to be accredited in such a
>> short
>> time,
>> >> according to CAP.
>> >>
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: Kim Donadio [mailto:one_angel_secret <@t> yahoo.com]
>> >> Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 6:31 PM
>> >> To: Katelin Lester
>> >> Cc: Carol Torrence; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> >> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Aetna requiring CAP accreditation for
>> non-hospital
>> >> labs
>> >>
>> >> My lab can pass any inspection I have no fear Bring it on 
>> >> utube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=gAQCbczCt8s
>> >>
>> >> Sent from my iPhone
>> >>
>> >> On Apr 5, 2012, at 7:00 PM, Katelin Lester 
>> >> <katelin09htl <@t> gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> We also received this notice. We contacted our local CLIA office 
>> >>> who had heard of it this week as well. We are a small lab, so we 
>> >>> are not sure yet how this change will impact us. I'd also be 
>> >>> curious to know what smaller, private labs are planning on doing.
>> >>> --
>> >>> Katelin Lester, HTL
>> >>> Gastroenterology Specialists of Oregon, P.C.
>> >>> Pathology Laboratory
>> >>> (971) 224-2408
>> >>>
>> >>> On Thu, Apr 5, 2012 at 12:16 PM, Carol Torrence
>> <ctorrence <@t> kmcpa.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> We have received notification from AETNA that they now require 
>> >>>> non-hospital labs to be accredited by CLIA and CAP.  The letter
>> makes
>> >>>> it obvious that by making such a request that they are not aware
>> that
>> >>>> CLIA assigned deemed status to CAP and CLIA is actually the 
>> >>>> gatekeeper.  Secondly we are told to be registered by May 1st 
>> >>>> and accredited by August 1st (which CAP says is
>> >>>> impossible) or we will have to send our lab to either Quest or 
>> >>>> Ameripath which includes Dermpath Diagnostics division.  It 
>> >>>> fails
>> to
>> >>>> mention that there are other CAP accredited non hospital labs in
>> our
>> >>>> state.  The Aetna contact number is either 'mailbox full" or 
>> >>>> even after leaving a message, no return call.  Me thinks me 
>> >>>> smells a
>> rat.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> If you are a non-hospital lab, have you heard of this?  Does 
>> >>>> your dematopathologist or pathologist know this is coming?  I am 
>> >>>> interested in your comments.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Carol M. Torrence, HT(ASCP)CM
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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>
>
>
> --
> *David Costanzo, MHS, PA (ASCP)*
> Project Manager
> *Blufrog Path Lab Solutions*
> 9401 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 650
> Beverly Hills, CA 90212
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