Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network

Officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will continue to delay enforcement of a rule requiring physician signatures on paper requisitions for medical laboratory tests.

According to an article in Dark Daily, CMS will not enforce the rule due to concerns raised by pathologists, lab directors, and other providers who were concerned about the negative effect this rule would have on patient care.

In December 2010, CMS officials announced they would delay enforcement of the rule, which was to take effect January 1, 2011, until the second quarter of 2011.