| December
2002 - Vol. 9, No. 2 [PDF,
20KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: This austere fiscal
climate likely forebodes the challenges Congress will face
as they consider the administration's health policy priorities.
- CPT: Proposals
for five clinical laboratory test codes were considered
but only two were approved.
- ESRD: ACLA met with
CMS to discuss a proposed resolution for the payment
of ESRD lab services provided during a SNF stay.
- Federal
Affairs: CMS is exploring the possibility
of extending the technical component grandfather
clause administratively.
- Short Takes: The effective
date by which all affected providers must use the new
CMS-approved ABN forms is January 1, 2003.
- Calendar of Events
|
| November
2002 - Vol. 9, No. 1 [PDF,
25KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: Just how much can get
done with relatively narrow margins of majority in each
house remains to be seen.
- ABN: CMS agreed that if
a laboratory receives a signed model-language ABN, the
laboratory may submit its claim with the GA modifier
indicating that it has a signed ABN on file.
- ESRD: CMS
says that carriers will pay claims using ICD-9 code 585
plus 285.21.
- FDA: The dialogue at the FDA/IVD Roundtable
meeting was open and constructive.
- Federal Affairs: The
Administration has delayed publication of the 2003 physician
fee schedule.
- National Policies Transition Period: ACLA
met with CMS to discuss the challenges labs will face
during the transition period.
- Calendar of Events
|
| October
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 12 [PDF,
20KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: The 107th Congress seems
to have accomplished little - understandable given the
war against terrorism.
- CLIAC: Dr. Sundwall attended
his first CLIAC meeting in Atlanta GA, as a member of
the committee.
- ESRD: ACLA met with CMS contractor
medical directors.
- FDA: ACLA submitted comments to
FDA on their ANPRM for Needle-Bearing Devices.
- Legislative
Update: The bill does not include
a freeze or any reduction in payments to laboratories.
- OSHA: ACLA
met with OSHA's Office of Health Enforcement.
- State
Issues: ACLA met with officials of the Wadsworth
Center to discuss their proposed regulations
governing non-FDA approved tests.
- Calendar of Events
|
| September
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 11 [PDF,
19KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: Congress faces a huge
backlog of business and it is hard to say at this time
just how much they will be able to accomplish.
- ABN: The
effective date of the program memorandum is October 1,
2002.
- www.labtestsonline.org: If you haven't already
visited www.labtestsonline.org, we recommended you
do so soon.
- CMS Lab Payment: ACLA made recommendations
on the assignment of payment levels for 12 new CPT codes.
- Environmental/Occupational
Health: COT publsihed
final regulations revising transportation requirements
for infectious substances.
- 2003 Physician Fee Schedule: ACLA
submitted written comments to CMS on the proposed changes
to the Physician Fee Schedule.
- Calendar of Events
|
| August
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 10 [PDF,
19KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: Significant Medicare
reform will not be considered in what remains of this election
year.
- Billing and Reimbursement: We agreed to seek
a CMS meeting to discuss claims processing concerns.
- CPT: ACLA
has been collecting information for the CAP Work Group
on Genetic Testing Coding.
- Environmental/Occupational
Health: ACLA submitted
comments to CDC on their Proposed Data Collection
regarding Notification of Possession of a Select Agent.
- Legislative
Affairs: ACLA has been meeting with
Senate staff to discuss our priorities, including
the single carrier option.
- State Issues: ACLA communicated
with the California Senate expressing our opposition
to legislation related to reporting blood lead testing
result.
- Calendar of Events
|
| July
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 9 [PDF,
19KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: We will now focus our
lobbying efforts on the Seante to make sure any Medicare
legislation considered is favorable to the clinical laboratory
industry and the beneficiaries we serve.
- CPT: We reviewed
a draft of proposed edits to the NCCI.
- ESRD: ACLA
and representatives met with CMS officials on June 28,
2002.
- Legislative Affairs: Labs should receive the
full CPT update for years beginning 2003 and beyond.
- Medicare
Cholestrol Screening Benefit: The House
passed Medicare bill authorizes coverage for cholesterol
and "other blood lipid screening tests."
- State
Issues: ACLA met with Dr. Lawrence Sturman
to discuss our concerns with respect to NY's proposed
regulations governing assay approval.
- Calendar of Events
|
| June
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 8 [PDF,
20KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: We have worked hard
as we know many of you have, to educate Congress why labs
must have the CPI update this year.
- CPT: The first
step of a process to develop CPT codes for new genetic
tests was taken by CAP.
- ESRD: CMS representatives
from the coverage and analysis group agreed to meet with
ACLA and its ESRD members on our request.
- FDA: ACLA
sent follow-up letters to Dr. Catherine Zoon and Steven
Masiello at the FDA's CBER.
- Genetic Testing: Rapid
growth in genomic medicine seems to be parelled by government
interest in oversight and regulation.
- State Issues: ACLA
expressed our opposition to competitive bidding for laboratory
services provided under Medi-Cal.
- Calendar of Events
|
| May
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 7 [PDF,
19KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: Of most interest to
the clinical laboratory industry is the Medicare reform
legislation under consideration.
- Billing and Reimbursement: ACLA
will seek a meeting with CMS claims processing staff.
- FDA: ACLA's
FDA Committee met with the Center for Biologics and Evaluation
and Research.
- HIPAA: ACLA filed comments with HHS
on the Proposed Rule modifying the HIPAA Privacy Regulation.
- Summit
on New Technology: A group of ACLA representatives
met here to discuss issues related to new technology
approval.
- Calendar of Events
|
| April
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 6 [PDF,
18KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: The battles of the budget
are being waged behind scenes between Congress and the
Administration.
- ABN: ACLA filed comments regarding
the final version of the new ABN.
- Billing and Reimbursement: ACLA
filed comments with CMS regarding identification and
return of overpayments and technical amendments to the
Medicare and Medicaid programs.
- ESRD/Clinical Laboratory
Service Open Forum: ACLA
expressed strong support for CMS to designate a single
Medicare carrier to process clinical laboratory claims
for ESRD.
- HHS Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform: ACLA
filed comments regarding ways to reduce current burdens
imposed by existing regulations.
- Calendar of Events
|
| March
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 5 [PDF,
19KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: The President's budget
proposal spares most providers from "cuts" in
Medicare reimbursement.
- Billing and Reimbursement: The
ABN form and instructions have been sent to OMB for final
review.
- CPT: We achieved consensus on most lab issues
prior to the CPT Editorial Panel meeting.
- ESRD: ACLA
wrote to CMS concerning possible changes to the 50/50
rule for ESRD laboratory testing.
- FDA: We discussed
the status of FDA's proposed draft guidance related to
in-vitro HIV drug genotyping assays.
- Negotiated Rule Making
Implementation: The first
phase of implementing "national coverage and
administrative policies for clnical diagnostic laboratory
tests" is
imminent.
- Calendar of Events
|
| February
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 4 [PDF,
15KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: Newly elected Board
Chair, Kenneth Freeman articulated our priorities for 2002,
and charged us to work together to achieve them.
- CMS: ACLA
was invited to participate in a CMS "Open
Door" Meeting on January 18.
- ESRD: The ESRD
Committee is drafting a letter to CMS to discuss possible
changes in the 50/50 rule.
- Legal: The Committee
filed comments on the CMS notice establishing procedures
for public consultation on coding and payment determinations
for new clinical lab tests.
- Calendar of Events
|
| January
2002 - Vol. 8, No. 3 [PDF,
18KB] |
| In this issue: |
- Message from Dr. Sundwall: ACLA will review and
revise our legislative and regulatory goals at our Annual
Membership Meeting on January 15.
- Growing Response to Bioterrorism: The
past month has been characterized by multiple efforts
to address current and future challenges posed by bioterrorism.
- ABN
Update: The website was amended to include
an additional Q&A state that the best practice
in this situtation is for the patient to receive
any necessary ABN at the physician's office.
- Billing
and Reimbursement: ACLA wrote to CMS in
response to a request that we identify our top laboratory
claims processing issues.
- Calendar of Events
|
