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Laboratory Compliance Insider

Issue 12, December 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• OIG Work Plan repeats many lab issues

  If the 2007 edition of the Work Plan that the OIG released in September looks familiar, that's...

• Plug the holes in your laboratory's electrical safety

  Although we often take electrical safety for granted, it is an important part of overall laboratory...

Issue 11, November 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• What the Deficit Reduction Act means for laboratories

  All laboratories should pay attention to the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) and understand...

• Laboratories, take note: New DOT regulations took effect October 1

  The U.S. Department of Transport-tion (DOT) revised its requirements for shipping infectious...

Issue 10, October 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Labs get green light on technology donations to referral sources

  The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and CMS have announced new regulatory flexibility that could...

• CMS proposes new payment policies that affect pod labs and billing

  In its 2007 physician fee schedule proposed rule, CMS seeks payment policy changes that affect pod...

Issue 9, September 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Critical GAO report finds problems with oversight of laboratory quality

  At the end of June, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that questions the...

• Monitor and audit your billing company

  If your laboratory outsources its billing, you shouldn't rely on the billing company alone to...

Issue 8, August 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Use a focused review to correct ABN compliance problems in the laboratory

  Your laboratory should perform a focused review of its advance beneficiary notice (ABN) compliance...

• Avoid complacency and make lab employees more aware of safety

  Getting laboratory staff to take safety seriously and consistently apply safety measures can...

• Hand gel risks once again surface after a flash fire

  A high-placed warning about the fire risks of alcohol-based hand gels has raised questions about...

Issue 7, July 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Tips for selecting the right audit sample

  Whether you audit billing, claims preparation, medical record documentation, or employee...

• CMS seeks public comment on lab bidding demonstration project form

  In April, CMS reported to Congress about the design of the clinical laboratory competitive bidding...

Issue 6, June 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Consider these six tips to create compliant competency assessments

  CLIA regulations require that your laboratory establish and follow written policies and procedures...

• JCAHO safety goals require your laboratory to focus on communication

  If the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) accredits your...

Issue 5, May 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Audits can help you catch compliance and reimbursement mistakes

  The OIG wants labs to continuously monitor their compliance with laws and regulations that affect...

• Here's what happens when providers violate the provisions of HIPAA

  Although labs have worked to prevent HIPAA violations for years, new enforcement regulations that...

• CMS provides cytology proficiency testing update

  In March, CMS held an open-door forum to bring the lab community up to speed on the cytology...

Issue 4, April 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Focus on medical director's role to comply with CLIA regulations

  As new accreditation changes focus more attention on the role of lab medical directors, labs should...

• Avoid hazardous waste violations in the lab

  In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published Mismanagement of Laboratory Waste...

Issue 3, March 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Ensure CLIA compliance on your lab personnel’s qualifications

  CLIA requires lab personnel to possess the proper qualifications for the testing that they perform...

• Updated TB guidelines include labs, other settings

  At the end of 2005, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its tuberculosis...

• Whistleblower ruling gives hope to labs

  In an October 2005 court decision, U.S. ex rel. Whitten v. Triad Hospitals, Inc., a federal court...

Issue 2, February 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CAP revamps inspection process

  The College of American Pathologists (CAP) announced in December 2005 that it would improve the...

• Try these tips to audit your policies and procedures

  The OIG’s Compliance Program Guidance for Clinical Laboratories recommends that labs create...

Issue 1, January 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Screening tests, Medicare prices highlight lab concerns in Work Plan

  The OIG’s publication in November 2005 of its annual Work Plan lets laboratories know about...

• Stay ahead of compliance officer double-duty

  Laboratories, like many other healthcare organizations, may not have the resources to hire an...

• Accepting other labs’ test order forms

  Q: If a patient comes to our lab with a test order written on another lab or hospital’s order...