Medicare has been forced to put a pilot program designed to cut the cost of lab tests on hold after losing a battle in court. CMS had asked labs to bid competitively on prices to provide 303 standard tests to Medicare patients in San Diego County, but three healthcare companies objected and filed suit to stop the program. The companies--Sharp Healthcare, Internist Laboratory and Scripps Health--contended that they'd be forced to cut their workforce and slash medical services if they lost their guaranteed Medicare lab test income. Now, the agency is pondering its options. It's not clear whether it will go ahead with a redesigned pilot of some kind, or drop the idea entirely.
To learn more about the pilot and the controversy:
- read this Associated Press article [1]
Related Articles:
Labs, systems file lawsuit to stop CMS pilot [2]
MDs fight to keep Medicare chronic care pilot program [3]
Links:
[1] http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/04/11/state/n170122D70.DTL&hw=health+care&sn=031&sc=314
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/labs-systems-file-lawsuit-stop-cms-pilot/2008-01-30
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/mds-fight-to-keep-medicare-pilot-program/2008-03-28