From setup to ongoing consulting and compliance training, MedSol’s licensed professionals can provide the support you need for your laboratory.
| The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final ruling and new reimbursement rates in the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) on November 17, 2017.
The new laboratory reimbursement rates under PAMA establish a market-based pricing system for lab tests in which Medicare payment for a test is based on the weighted median average of private payor rates. |
| The new rates create a single national fee schedule and go into effect January 1, 2018. This could lead to Medicare payment cuts for many lab tests; however, any reductions in the CLFS are capped at 10% per year for the first 3 years of the PAMA program. |
Payment rates for the CLFS will be based on current rates from private payers, and updated every three years using current data. The legislation caps the amount that can be cut annually:
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| No major change to how practices submit codes or reimbursement. |
All labs with testing reimbursed from the CMS Clinical Lab Fee Schedule.
June 17, 2016
CMS released a final rule implementing Section 216(a) of PAMA, requiring laboratories performing clinical diagnostic laboratory tests to report the amounts paid by private insurers for laboratory tests
November 17, 2017
CMS posted new reimbursement rates for lab tests
January 1, 2018
The new rates go into effect as a single national fee schedule (part of the CLFS)
Laboratory testing plays a significant role in healthcare decisions, patient satisfaction and increased operational efficiency. Seventy percent of physician decisions rely on a lab test for diagnosis and treatment.
If you are an independent or physician office lab that receives significant portions of your revenue from the CLFS, you may wish to work with your McKesson Medical-Surgical Account Executive to perform a business review to help ensure the health of your lab and practice.
Here are some ways to help prepare your lab:
For more details about PAMA, visit CMS’s PAMA Regulations webpage.
From setup to ongoing consulting and compliance training, MedSol’s licensed professionals can provide the support you need for your laboratory.
Our Laboratory Implementation Team helps with initial lab setup and implementation, ensuring you have enough space for lab equipment, verifying hazard protocols, validating and testing equipment and more. This team can help set up single pieces of lab equipment or help build an entire new lab. Email us today to get started.
Expanding or building your lab? Our team of laboratory specialists is available to help provide specialized consulting on various laboratory equipment and categories. Contact a laboratory specialist today.
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Be advised that information contained herein is intended to serve as a useful reference for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This information is intended for use only by competent healthcare professionals exercising judgment in providing care. McKesson cannot be held responsible for the continued currency of or for any errors or omissions in the information.
