HCPro.com: Laboratory Compliance Insider

Each month with Laboratory Compliance Insider you get more of our exclusive working tools: model guidelines, policies, forms, etc., that you can use to comply with OIG and CMS, reduce claim denials, and get paid in full and on time.

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March 2008 (Volume 5, Issue 3)	view entire issue

Anti-markup delayed, some rules remain for laboratories
The January LCI outlined the implications of the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule anti-markup provisions. On January 3, however, CMS delayed implementation of several provisions until January 1, 2009-with two exceptions that apply to many laboratories. First, the anti-markup prohibition will, as of January 1, 2008, continue to apply to the technical component (TC) of a "purchased diagnostic test," says Robert E. Mazer, Esq., a healthcare attorney with Ober Kaler in Baltimore.

Compliance tools to help handle DWI blood draws
Drawing blood for purposes of prosecution of driving while intoxicated (DWI) could cause your hospital laboratory to tackle difficult decisions. First, the police may request a blood draw from an intoxicated patient who may not have consented to the withdrawal. Later, a court may subpoena the laboratory staff members to testify about the procedures it used to collect blood if a person challenges a conviction. To help you deal with these situations, we spoke to Illinois criminal defense attorney Donald Ramsell, Esq., of Ramsell, Armamentos & Klis, LLC, in Wheaton, IL.

Disaster information for employee home use
ditor's note: Distribute the following information, provided by the American Red Cross, to help employees prepare. Contact your local Red Cross and fire and police departments for disaster information, such as evacuation plans. Emergency planning at home for staff Our laboratory values you and your service and has taken extensive precautions to prepare for emergencies, ranging from natural disasters to pandemics to terrorism. Please be sure to review these plans.

Other recently-published articles from Laboratory Compliance Insider:

LCI 2008 index

Coming soon: Labs get ready and debate rages as ICD-10 implementation date approaches

Acronym attack? Tips to survive the new MAC/RAC world

Quality control, compliance in the genomics era

OIG addresses lab concerns in its 2009 Work Plan

Signature requirements cause labs headaches

Debate over licensing for technologists continues

Keep the chargemaster from being a taskmaster

Joint Commission offers options to combat disruptive acts

Incident-to rules rescinded, laboratories need not worry

Genetic testing raises questions about laboratory tests

CoP rule hardens blood safety requirements

Laboratories celebrate landmark victory

Secrets to success in processing medical necessity paperwork

A proactive approach to self-disclosure protocols

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