Laboratory Question for the Week of November 7, 2022

Question:

What types of tests will be impacted by lab reimbursement cuts if these cuts are finalized for next year?

Answer:

According to the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA), over 800 tests across the nation are slated to experience an up to 15 percent reimbursement cut at the start of the next year. However, this is the shadow of “previous rounds of cuts between 2017 and 2022 that resulted in payment for tests used to screen and diagnose diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions to be cut by 27 percent. Some tests could see a cumulative cut of up to 41 percent.” In particular, cuts may reduce access to lab services specifically responsible for senior care with the ACLA naming several key conditions that may be impacted including:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• prostate and colon cancers
• anemia
• viral and bacterial infections
• opioid dependency.

The ACLA draws some stark conclusions on the implications of more payment cuts: “Without congressional intervention this year, laboratories across the country will face tough decisions potentially reducing services offered to patients and curbing investment in the next generation of diagnostic tests.”

This question was answered in an edition of our Laboratory Compliance Manager. For more hot topics relating to laboratory services, please visit our store or call us at 1.800.252.1578, ext. 2.