The Associated Press (AP) reported that a federal judge has
delayed a CMS pilot program intended to reduce the costs of Medicare lab tests
after the judge determined that the program could threaten the quality of
patient care. The program would have selected clinical laboratories to provide more
than 300 tests, including blood work, to Medicare patients in San Diego County.
The judge delayed the program after two health care systems
indicated that the program would force them to lay off workers and reduce their
medical services since they could no longer guarantee the income from lab
services billed to Medicare.
To read the AP story, click here.
