News and Information

Enrolling in PECOS

March 2010
On January 3, 2011 Medicare will discontinue paying claims for physicians if both the physician and referring provider are not enrolled in PECOS (Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System). It is important to understand that enrollment in PECOS is a separate process from traditional Medicare enrollment. Although enrolled in Medicare, many physicians are not enrolled in PECOS.

PSA Enters into Business Alliance Agreement with NeoGenomics Laboratories

March 2010
Pathology Service Associates, LLC (PSA), a MED3OOO Company, the country’s leading provider of revenue cycle management and other business support services to independent pathologists across the United States, has entered into a Business Alliance Agreement with NeoGenomics Laboratories,Inc.

Temporary Freeze on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

January 2010
On December 19 the President signed into law the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 3326), which included language temporarily freezing the Conversion Factor used in setting the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) at the 2009 rate.

PSA November 2009 Examiner

November 2009
This issue of the PSA Examiner discusses the new Business Alliance with AlliedPath, expanding laboratory capabilities with Cerner Gajema, the proposed reduction in the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and much more.

New Business Alliance with AlliedPath, Inc.

October 2009
AlliedPath, Inc. is a privately owned esoteric cancer-focused molecular diagnostics testing laboratory which offers a menu of genomic-based, molecular tests on solid tumors. AlliedPath offers a partnership approach with pathology groups to expand their capabilities and enhance service levels to their referring physicians.

PSA Alert: Red Flag Rules Delayed Again

October 2009
The Federal Trade Commission has once again delayed the enforcement of the "Red Flags" Rule until June 1, 2010. The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3763 which would exempt certain businesses with less than 20 employees from having to comply with the "Red Flags Rule." On October 20 the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. At this time, this bill has not been passed into law, and pathology practices are still expected to comply with the Red Flags Rule before the current enforcement date.

Proposed Reduction in 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

August 2009
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently announced proposed changes for the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) which will result in a 21.5% reduction in the Medicare allowable amounts beginning January 1, 2010.

PSA August 2009 Examiner

August 2009
This issue of the PSA Examiner covers the delay in the FTC "Red Flags" Rule, the Cerner CoPathPlus Advanced Barcoding & Tracking system, as well as a press release on one of PSA's newest affiliated hospitals, Rex Healthcare Laboratories and much more. Click the link above to download the full newsletter.

Rex Healthcare Laboratory Selects PSA as Their Billing Service Provider

August 2009
Rex Healthcare Laboratory is a full-service, comprehensive clinical laboratory located within Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC. The Rex Healthcare Laboratory services Rex Healthcare facilities and local physician offices, as well as other clients in Raleigh and the surrounding areas. “We selected PSA for their billing expertise and their marketing services to help enhance our outreach business."

PSA Alert: FTC "Red Flags" Rule Delayed

July 2009
Enforcement Delayed United November 1, 2009: The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") has announced that enforcement of the Red Flags Rule will be delayed until November 1, 2009 for some entities, such as health care providers and small businesses.

PSA June 2009 Examiner

June 2009
This issue of the PSA Examiner covers hot topics such as Preferred Pricing for the Ventana VANTAGE System and most recent PSA Alert on the Medicare Scam. Click the link above to download the full newsletter.

PSA Alert: Medicare Scam

June 2009
On June 19, 2009 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) became aware of a Medicare Scam where imposters are sending faxes to physician offices posing as the Medicare carrier or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). The fax instructs physician staff to respond to a questionnaire to supply updated account information within 48 hours in order to prevent a gap in Medicare payments.

PSA Summer 2009 Examiner

May 2009
This issue of the PSA Examiner covers hot topics such as FTC "Red Flags" Rule Compliance and Healthcare Drivers for Change. Click the link above to download the newsletter.

PSA Alert: FTC "Red Flags" Rule Compliance

April 2009
The Federal Trade Commission has announced that the enforcement of the new “Red Flags Rule” will be delayed until August 1, 2009, to give creditors and financial institutions, who have low risk of identity theft, more time to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs.

PSA Spring 2009 Examiner

March 2009
This issue of the PSA Examiner covers hot topics such as Saving the Environment and Decreasing Days in A/R, PQRI FAQ, Microsatellite Instability: Opportunity for Pathology in Personalized Medicine, CMS Continues to Tinker with Anti-Markup Rule and much more. Click the link above to download the newsletter.

New CPT II Coding for PQRI Reporting

January 2009
In an effort to eliminate confusion when reporting on Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) pathology measures, the CPT Editorial Panel has created a new CPT Category II code used to report tissues other than breast and colon. Code 3250F (Specimen site other than anatomic location of primary tumor) will now be reported when tissue other than primary breast or colon tissue meets reporting standards.

New HCPCS: Prostate Saturation Biopsies

January 2009
The 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule published by CMS last month included the addition of four new HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) codes used to report the surgical pathology examination of prostate saturation biopsies. It is important to note that these new codes apply to a relatively new technique that is not widely used.