[Histonet] The Rise of Physician Owned/Operated Labs (POLs) andfuture trends

Wed Oct 31 10:32:31 CDT 2012

Thank you!!! I couldn't agree with you more. Those were my exact thoughts when I read the initial e-mail.

Hermina 

Hermina M. Borgerink, MA, HT(ASCP)HTL, QIHC
Wake Forest University Primate Center
Department of Pathology
Medical Center Blvd.
Winston-Salem, N C  27157
Tel. (336) 716-1538
Fax (336) 716-1515
Email: hborgeri <@t> wakehealth.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 11:03 AM
To: Kaye Ryan
Cc: Histonet
Subject: Re: [Histonet] The Rise of Physician Owned/Operated Labs (POLs) andfuture trends

Kaye:
Sure!
The "odd" thing that struck me is that this "fictitious scenario" was "planted" on Histonet just a few day before the presidential election and I am suspicious of the final intent of the posting.
Is it to "link" a frightening scenario with the so called "Obama care"?
Is it the "possible" solution of this imaginary scenario to "eliminate Obama care" as has been "promised" by Romney?
Is this a way to get a few additinal votes for Romney? I would not be surprised at all!
I am always very suspicious of "coincidences" because "coincidences do not exist".
René J.

________________________________
From: Kaye Ryan <kryan <@t> nfderm.com>
To: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 10:55 AM
Subject: RE: [Histonet] The Rise of Physician Owned/Operated Labs (POLs) andfuture trends

THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENEE!

Kaye

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 10:51 AM
To: Brendal Finlay; Webster, Thomas S.
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] The Rise of Physician Owned/Operated Labs (POLs) andfuture trends

To everybody worrying for something that has NOT happen yet and that NOBODY knows if will happen.
These are pure speculations.
Do not put the cart before the horses. I do not think that this scary scenario is in the near future.
René J.

________________________________
From: Brendal Finlay <brendal.finlay <@t> medicalcenterclinic.com>
To: "Webster, Thomas S." <twebster <@t> CRH.org>
Cc: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Histonet] The Rise of Physician Owned/Operated Labs (POLs) and future trends

This is disturbing news. As an employee of an "in-house" lab (which started in 1996/1997) that does mostly skins, GI biopsies, and outpatient surgery specimens I'm pretty disheartened to hear about the 88305 issue. Melanoma excisions, prostates (even lower block # cases, we don't always get 12), breast biopsies, and other more difficult cases can be a lot of work on both the professional & technical end of things.  

As for prostate biopsies, CMS has already lowered reimbursement with the G codes. This is despite the wording that they are for saturation biopsies. We rarely have saturation biopsies, but Medicare denies us the 88305 charge if more than 5 specimens. 

Other insurance companies tend to follow their lead  after a little time.  I believe reimbursement is 50-75% less for 5-20 biopsies, but don't quote me on that.  I expect we may see the end of saturation and multi-container prostate biopsies in the near future. 

Another issue for many outpatient labs in my area is that larger insurances are requiring their patients to go to large multinational labs.  We cannot accept many PPOs or Medicare replacement plans because of this. 

I feel it can be a disservice to the patient because they do not get the same personal, local service with good turn around times. Even my insurance requires me to go to one of these labs where I feel inconvenienced and frustrated at the wait time required to submit my sample and get results to my physician. 

On Oct 31, 2012, at 8:17 AM, "Webster, Thomas S." <twebster <@t> CRH.org> wrote:

> Here is what CAP has on their website about the issue.
> Only the TC of 88305 is being discussed for 2013. We should know fairly soon the decision.
> More codes have been flagged as overvalued as well that could be cut for 2014 (PC and TC at this point).
> 
> http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/advocacy/advocacy_issues/revaluation.pdf
> 
> 
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