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Laboratory Compliance Insider

Issue 12, December 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• OIG set to focus on billing and claims submission

  Once again the OIG has issued its annual Work Plan. Several issues return from last year's work...

• OIG/AHLA offer guidance on quality oversight

  Laboratory board members and administrators have new guidance to help them comply with quality...

Issue 11, November 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Phase III Stark released

  It's been more than three years since CMS delivered the last phase of Stark regulations. Now, CMS...

• Listen to your laboratory for sound safety

  Open your ears to the sounds in your laboratory and make sure noise levels are controlled...

Issue 10, October 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Ten tips for improving document control

  Accrediting entities such as CAP and The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) require these systems...

• How to discipline staff properly to avoid legal trouble

  When a laboratory staff member fails to follow quality control (QC) measures, mislabels specimens...

Issue 9, September 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Carefully navigate CLIA and employment laws

  CLIA requires laboratories to have only qualified, competent technologists and staff members...

Issue 8, August 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• OIG takes back excessive charges rule

  For almost four years, you have wondered what the OIG would do about rules concerning excessive...

• Enhance your business-help staff members communicate

  To improve your laboratory operations, help everyone-from accountants in finance to laboratory...

• Don't be shy: Use these three strategies to bring staff closer

  Getting laboratory, compliance, and finance personnel in the same room can build a sense of...

• Train sales staff about compliance concerns, too

  Have you trained your sales staff yet this year? It is important to continually train employees...

Issue 7, July 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Know what to put in your annual client notice

  Laboratories "are in a unique position to educate their physician clients," says the OIG...

• OSHA releases pandemic guidance for staff protection

  Laboratories could be on the front line of identifying a pandemic flu. Now the Occupational Safety...

• Verify certifications to ensure competency of your staff

  CLIA regulations require that laboratory staff members be competent to perform the responsibilities...

Issue 6, June 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Certifications and credentials help your laboratory comply

  CLIA regulations require laboratory directors to ensure that their staff members have the...

• Know the basics of sentinel events

  If your laboratory is accredited by The Joint Commission, do your staff members know how to...

Issue 5, May 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Respond well to quality complaints

  What should you do if a laboratory staff member reports potential problems with quality control...

• Indepth: Regulatory provisions addressing signatures on requisitions and orders

  Although a test requisition doesn't need a signature unless a payer (e.g., Medicaid) requires it...

Issue 4, April 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Encourage employees to report quality complaints, suggestions

  Monitoring and improving quality should be top concerns for your laboratory. In a 2006 report, the...

• Check OSHA's top citations to boost safety in your laboratory

  If you're looking to improve safety, check out the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's...

Issue 3, March 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS updates stored specimens rules

  CMS has revisited dates of service (DOS) for stored specimens and the rules have changed. Although...

• Ensure timely reporting, read-back when communicating critical values

  Editor's note: This is the second in a two-part series about critical value reporting. Look in the...

• False claims compliance requires caution

  CMS has issued guidance on implementing the Deficit Reduction Act's (DRA) false claims education...

Issue 2, February 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Sell compliance to decision-makers to obtain more program funding

  Those in charge of laboratory compliance often have trouble convincing those in charge of budgets...

• Don't risk critical value compliance

  Editor's note: This is the first article in a two-part series about critical value reporting. Look...

• Documentation, performance critical to PT compliance

  Editor's note: This is the second in a two-part series on proficiency testing (PT). Look in the...

Issue 1, January 1, 2007 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Avoid common PT enrollment pitfalls

  Editor's note: This story is the first in a two-part series about proficiency testing (PT). Look in...

• CMS finalizes some-and sidelines other-proposals in the 2007 PFS

  CMS' 2007 physician fee schedule (PFS) final rule pulled back on some proposals that could affect...

• CMS releases second competitive bidding transmittal

  Includes new designations, billing thresholds As the April start of the laboratory competitive...