Future of pod labs

[pathbot]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I've long heard that our professional organizations have been acting to end this kind of set up, but other specialty societies advocate for this. I was just wondering what the consensus is for the future of these kinds of labs.

Also, from what I know, many of these labs are actually a part of larger private practices (not just a single pathologist who agrees to work for a group of urologists). If pod labs are ended, do most feel that the specimens would still go to the private practice that they have been working with, or instead be shunted to the megalabs.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

Shunted to the megalabs. The labs that are going to survive all this change are going to be the megalabs. Large core labs of the catholic/university systems that are taking over each state and labcorp/quest. Look for more joint ventures between the large hospital chains and labcorp/quest.

 

[icpshootyz]

I partially agree with WEBB. For the local private practice guys to keep the business, the government would have to both eliminate pod labs AND all forms of client billing/TC-PC set-ups. Right now, if pod labs were made illegal the practices that had them would simply shop for the best client bill deals they could get from nearby path labs, and only the big players could likely afford to bid low enough to get the business (and allow the shady clinicians to keep profiting off work they don't do). Or they'd offer shady in-office employees to assist in pathology-related activities (and whatever else the clinicians want to use them for). Or they might simply give them kickbacks and hope they don't get caught. The little guys will likely still get the shaft. I work for a smaller private group that has basically been told we cannot beat the deals the local big labs give. I doubt that will change much without some serious auditing and whistle blowing.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

Not to mention managed care contracts that are way below medicare rates. A law to prevent labs from charging below medicare would be nice as well. No way to compete in this race to the bottom. With these high deductible health care plans, look for that to harm small pathology groups as well.

If the pathology market was good, you wouldnt see this kind of shady stuff going on. It's the best indicator of the job market.

 

[pathbot]

I think it was even a few years ago that 16 states had outlawed client billing, not sure what that number is now. I wonder which practice will be completely done away with first--client billing or pod labs.

Also if a clinician practices in a state that has outlawed client billing, could they still send specimens to a lab in a state that permits it?

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

No, they cant send them to a state that allows it.

You also have to be careful of pathology protectionist laws in other states. California, for example, has some laws making it a pain in the a** to do business with California physicians if you are out of state.

If I had to guess, I'd tend to believe in-office labs will disappear before client billing. The growth of them is definitely slowing down. Mega ones will probably survive. My god, in my state there are two massive urology labs where the majority of the specimens in the state go. One even performs Know-Error DNA testing on the positive prostate cases. $$$$$. I dont see them going away anytime soon. They are funneling too many cases to their labs.

Client billing has a LONG history and probably a long future unfortunantly. And the laws in States that outlaw it only cover AP codes. Leaves a lot of ways to create other shady deals. CP codes are still fair game. With the line blurring between AP and CP, the laws will continue to be more and more irrelevant.