Corporate Compliance Newsletters

APC Answer Letter APC Payment Insider Briefings on APCs Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies Briefings on HIPAA Health Care Auditing Strategies Health Information Compliance Insider JustCoding.com Laboratory Compliance Insider Mammography Regulation and Reimbursement Report Strategies for Health Care Compliance

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.

Subscribe »

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Laboratory Compliance Insider

Issue 12, December 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Tips for handling heavy flu testing volume

  Now, nearly all states are seeing widespread flu cases, and many labs have heavy testing volume...

• Stay on top of MUEs to avoid denials

  Although the most recent medically unlikely edits (MUE) update in October brought few surprises...

• ‘Clarification’ muddies the waters on lab order signatures

  If you thought you understood CMS’ policy when it comes to physician orders for clinical...

Issue 11, November 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Get ready for 2010 Joint Commission requirements

  Laboratories understand and generally support reporting of critical values. However, Cowel says...

• Tips to tackle the top safety problems in your lab

  A combination of safety vigilance and training can prevent these small errors. Our experts list...

• Laboratory fees in Baucus bill a concern

  Representatives from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) hope changes to the...

Issue 10, October 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Get ready for new HITECH HIPAA requirements

  It’s important for laboratories to incorporate the requirements from the Federal Register...

• Drawing the line: Dealing with disruptive physicians in the laboratory

  Disruptive physicians exist at many facilities and organizations. Whether your organization has one...

• Performing a needs assessment prior to a technology purchase can save your organization headaches

  If you take time to conduct a technology needs assessment, you can avoid problems and help your...

Issue 9, September 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• The ZPICs are coming

  This means that if there are problems with your billing processes, it’s more likely now that...

• Short-staffed? Tips to keep lab quality from deteriorating

  A poor economy, which has brought tight budgets and layoffs and an increasing demand for laboratory...

• Lessons from UCLA lab accident that burned woman

  In the wake of the lab accident, the committee recommended expanding outreach and training and...

Issue 8, August 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Steal the surveyor’s top tool to get your lab into shape

  Chances are good that the inspector who walks through your door will put his hands on the one item...

• Ensure the transfer of lab results after patient discharge

  When a patient is discharged from the hospital, a test result may not get to his or her physician...

Issue 7, July 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Going green can bring in some green

  Your lab can do its part to help save the environment by reducing waste, recycling, and minimizing...

• New report outlines best practices to reduce lab errors

  The H1N1 virus (i.e., swine flu) has made it more important than ever for your lab to ensure that...

• Prepare for the fall flu season, possible return of H1N1

  When it comes to patient safety, the laboratory isn’t always at the top of the priority list...

Issue 6, June 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Check your Red Flags Rule compliance

  Many organizations are breathing a sigh of relief because the Federal Trade Commission has again...

• Get the results back fast: Eight tips for reducing turnaround times

  How fast does your lab get test results back to the ordering physician? Are you moving fast...

• New bill seeks to modernize Medicare fee schedule

  A new bill introduced in the House of Representatives in March aims to drag the outdated Medicare...

Issue 5, May 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Top 11 things you need to know about new HIPAA regulations

  Lab directors take note: The government has made HIPAA a new priority, and you must follow suit...

• Use a team approach to make use of anticoagulants safer

  To help prevent adverse events, The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) established National Patient...

• 911: Get your lab ready

  Generally, facilities conduct disaster planning on a hospital- or systemwide basis. But it’s...

Issue 4, April 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• PT referrals may carry serious consequences

  Although PT referrals have always been a priority for CMS, there has been a slight uptick in the...

• Quest Vitamin D error could affect thousands of patients

  Officials at Quest Diagnostics have taken steps to improve quality control, training, and auditing...

• Tips to ensuring an effective CPOE program

  Computerized physician order entry can help streamline laboratory processes. It can improve the use...

Issue 3, March 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Prepare for expanded OSHA, Joint Commission requirements

  Hazardous gas monitoring, emergency preparedness, and anticoagulant management top the list of...

• Don't leave patient safety up to chance; plan ahead

  A simple mix-up or a misidentified sample presents dire consequences for your patients. Is your lab...

• Cytology PT proposal called too little, too late

  CMS revived debate about cytology proficiency testing (PT) January 15 with a proposal to change...

Issue 2, February 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• How to comply with 11 new challenges in 2009

  Laboratories this year will see a continued focus on proficiency testing (PT) referrals, stepped-up...

• Pandemic flu: Expecting the unexpected

  Quick—what’s your lab’s contingency plan for handling an influenza pandemic? What...

• ICD-10: Early preparation tips

  The switch to ICD-10 may be a few years away, but it’s worth preparing for the change. At...

Issue 1, January 1, 2009 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

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

  The October 2009 transition of fee-for-service administration from fiscal intermediaries (FI) to...

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

  Despite the controversy regarding the implementation timetable and costs, ICD-10 means tremendous...

• LCI 2008 index

  Accreditation aids Avoid accreditation risks, pay attention to equipment care. Feb., p. 1. CAP...