- Joined
- Apr 21, 2004
- Messages
- 221
- Reaction score
- 1
Recent ASCP release:
"BREAKING NEWS
CMS Punts on PFS Condo Laboratory Fix, Future Regulations on Issue Still Pending
Pathology and laboratory medicine was dealt an unexpected blow on November 1st when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) declined to implement a series of proposals aimed at stopping abusive billing practices by pod or condo laboratories.
Word of CMSs inaction came when the agency released its 2007 physician fee schedule (PFS) final rule. CMS had proposed, and the pathology and laboratory medicine community strongly supported, a broad array of proposals aimed at blocking abusive billing practices by pod laboratories. These laboratories participate in contractual joint ventures enabling non-pathologists physicians and other entities to secure the revenues resulting from the referral of pathology services.
In the August proposed physician fee schedule rule, CMS had outlined several of proposals aimed at reining in these abusive business practices. Unfortunately, in the final rule, CMS declined to implement any of these proposals. Included among the agencys received comments were a number of comments raising concern that the agencys proposal could have adverse impacts on other areas of medicine not related to pathology and laboratory medicine. CMS indicated in the rule that it is continuing to study the issue and plans to issue final regulations in the future. It is unclear when final rules on this issue will be released and what initiatives the agency will take to combat these contractual joint ventures.
Regarding independent laboratory billing for the technical component of physician pathology services to hospital patients, CMS, as expected, indicated that for services furnished after December 31, 2006, an independent laboratory may not bill the carrier for the TC of physician pathology services furnished to a hospital inpatient or outpatient.
ASCP will provide a more detailed report on the physician fee schedule in the next issue of e-Policy. ASCP will continue to work with our allies in pathology and laboratory medicine to advocate for strong measures to stop pod laboratories from engaging in abusive billing practices."
Maybe I'll start my own pod lab...😡
"BREAKING NEWS
CMS Punts on PFS Condo Laboratory Fix, Future Regulations on Issue Still Pending
Pathology and laboratory medicine was dealt an unexpected blow on November 1st when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) declined to implement a series of proposals aimed at stopping abusive billing practices by pod or condo laboratories.
Word of CMSs inaction came when the agency released its 2007 physician fee schedule (PFS) final rule. CMS had proposed, and the pathology and laboratory medicine community strongly supported, a broad array of proposals aimed at blocking abusive billing practices by pod laboratories. These laboratories participate in contractual joint ventures enabling non-pathologists physicians and other entities to secure the revenues resulting from the referral of pathology services.
In the August proposed physician fee schedule rule, CMS had outlined several of proposals aimed at reining in these abusive business practices. Unfortunately, in the final rule, CMS declined to implement any of these proposals. Included among the agencys received comments were a number of comments raising concern that the agencys proposal could have adverse impacts on other areas of medicine not related to pathology and laboratory medicine. CMS indicated in the rule that it is continuing to study the issue and plans to issue final regulations in the future. It is unclear when final rules on this issue will be released and what initiatives the agency will take to combat these contractual joint ventures.
Regarding independent laboratory billing for the technical component of physician pathology services to hospital patients, CMS, as expected, indicated that for services furnished after December 31, 2006, an independent laboratory may not bill the carrier for the TC of physician pathology services furnished to a hospital inpatient or outpatient.
ASCP will provide a more detailed report on the physician fee schedule in the next issue of e-Policy. ASCP will continue to work with our allies in pathology and laboratory medicine to advocate for strong measures to stop pod laboratories from engaging in abusive billing practices."
Maybe I'll start my own pod lab...😡
