The lab workforce shortage is a national phenomenon, but it has been especially well documented in the state of California. According to the California Hospital Association (CHA), 850 new lab techs – one third of the state’s lab tech population – will be needed to replace workers set to retire by 2015. However, the state’s…
The American Clinical Laboratory Association, of which COLA is an associate member, prepared this document outlining its views about proposals to change the cost sharing structure for Medicare by initiating a patient copay for lab services. _____________________ Clinical Laboratory Cost Sharing – Penny Wise and Pound Foolish One option raised by the Congressional Budget Office…
ADVANCE’s Jill Hoffman recently blogged about COLA becoming the first and only private accreditor to receive ISO certification. Hoffman called COLA “a model for pursuing excellence.” She added: “It is refreshing to know that some organizations still hold not only their clients and others around them to the highest possible standards, but also themselves in…
The American Clinical Laboratory Association, of which COLA is an associate member, prepared this analysis of the impact the debt ceiling compromise agreed to by President Obama and Congress will have on the lab industry. The Debt Ceiling Compromise and What It Means for Labs The legislation, once enacted, sets up essentially two stages to…
COLA CEO Doug Beigel was interviewed recently by ADVANCE Magazine about what becoming the first private accreditor to receive ISO certification has meant to COLA’s ability to serve its clients.
A copy of the interview can be found here.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule to retract the so-called physician signature requirement for clinical diagnostic lab testing. Originally part of the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule final rule, the policy would have required the signature of a physician or qualified non-physician practitioner on a requisition for tests paid…
As the Obama White House and Congressional Republicans debate the debt ceiling and budget situations, possible impacts to Medicare funding continue to be part of the discussion. One of the proposals said to be on the front burner involves imposing a 20 percent Medicare Part B patient copay on clinical lab services.. Lab tests are…
In its July 2011 update to the list of waived tests, CMS added three new devices approved by the FDA for this purpose. CPT CODE EFFECTIVE DATE DESCRIPTION 82274QW, G0328QW January 1, 2011 Polymedco Poly Stat OC-light FOB Test 87804QW January 10, 2011 BTNX, Inc. Rapid Response Influenza A Test Cassette 87804QW January…
For COLA’s Assistant Accreditation Division Manager, accreditation is her latest stop in a varied lab career
If you would like to follow Doug directly for more timely updates and industry perspectives, you can follow/subscribe to him at the following links: Thoughts on COLA Cares Week 2011 By Douglas Beigel, Chief Executive Officer, COLA At COLA, we’re all part of the same work community. Together we help promote patient safety by…
