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Second Quarter Newsletter 2008
Nearly 139,000 Americans are affected by leukemia or lymphoma, and every 10 minutes someone is expected to die from one of these two forms of blood cancers. To bring attention to these life-threatening diseases, September is recognized as Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month. Read the rest of this entry »
On August 25, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a guide to assists stakeholders with better understanding the processes used to determine coverage, coding and payment for new technologies under the Medicare program. Read the rest of this entry »
In the August 22, 2008 Federal Register, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed rule that would replace ICD-9 code sets with ICD-10 code sets effective October 1, 2011. Developed 30 years ago, ICD-9 has just 17,000 codes and is expected to run out of space as early as 2009. The ICD-10 sets contain more than 155,000 codes, which can accommodate a variety of new diagnoses and procedures. Read the rest of this entry »
On July 31, 2008, the “Clinical Laboratory Diagnostic Fee Schedule Modernization Act of 2008” (HR 6761) was introduced in an effort to modernize the clinical diagnostic laboratory fee schedule. Read the rest of this entry »
The original September 1, 2008 deadline for required usage of the new ABN was extended by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). According to the CMS website, providers (including independent laboratories), physicians, practitioners, and suppliers will not be required to use the new form until March 1, 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc. (MPLN) now offers K-RAS mutation testing to assist with the identification of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients most likely to show limited clinical response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) therapies. Read the rest of this entry »
Public Comment Encouraged
Aug. 4 – Sept. 3, 2008
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has opened a National Coverage Analysis (NCA) to complete a thorough review of evidence to determine if the use of pharmacogenomic testing for warfarin is reasonable and necessary under the Medicare program. (https://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewtrackingsheet.asp?id=224) Read the rest of this entry »
Colton Smith, PhD, was named special projects software developer for Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network, Inc. (MPLN) and its subsidiary, Geneuity Clinical Research Services. Read the rest of this entry »