Volume XV April 2020 - Top Stories: 1. Big News: On April 14, CMS effectively doubled the reimbursement for COVID-19 testing. CMS has signaled that labs that are validated for high-throughput (more than two hundred specimens a day using highly sophisticated equipment) will qualify for Medicare reimbursement of $100 effective (formerly $51) starting on April 14, 2020. 2. Lab Owners have a lot of Questions about COVID-19 Testing. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we have multiple inquires per day from individuals contemplating starting a COVID-19 testing lab or considering adding this line of testing to their existing lab. So we decided to answer the most frequently asked questions about coronavirus testing (see Industry Insights section in this newsletter).

WHAT'S TRENDING?

1. In our most recent poll, we discovered that only 5.6% of clinical labs are currently validated for COVID-19 testing and that 28.6% of labs are currently considering setting up drive-thru testing:

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

1. Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Testing As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we received multiple inquires per day from individuals contemplating starting a COVID-19 testing lab or considering adding this line of testing to their existing lab. Outlined below are the mostly frequently asked questions:

What is the reimbursement for COVID-19 testing? What is the cost to run a COVID-19 test? What equipment do we need to perform the testing and what does it cost? What is the cost to validate a COVID-19 Molecular PCR LDT in our lab? We answered all of these and more! Read it HERE

2. Some of the most frequent consulting questions we are asked relate to the CLIA application and CMS-116 Form. We created a FREE "How to" video and written guide on this! We hope you find it helpful. Let us know if we can be of assistance with any further questions or by supplying a Lab Director to sign the application. Read Step-By-Step guide HERE or watch video guide HERE. 3. Many lab owners are looking at ways to diversify their offerings. As a company dedicated to making quality laboratory testing more accessible, we feel a responsibility to contribute to addressing the risks posed by COVID-19. To that end, we are actively performing coronavirus testing validation projects within our client labs which will enable them to offer testing for COVID-19 as a laboratory-developed test on molecular PCR platform. Review a PDF HERE. We hope that by helping more clients provide quality testing to patients, we will be doing our part to facilitate the healthcare sector’s coordinated response.

We know, COVID-19 testing remains a top priority for many of you as we enter May. We wanted to let you know that Lighthouse has a number of candidates who are ready and willing to help in the fight against coronavirus. Below are a few sample profiles we wanted to highlight for your reference. We have many similar candidates across the US, so please reach out if you need any help staffing your lab in the fight against COVID-19. Candidate #1 is MB(ASCP) certified and is currently doing COVID-19 testing using Gene Expert. She has been working at the NIH and University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center for the past several years, and has experience working in a fast paced environment. Candidate #2 is MB(ASCP) certified and is available for work in the Denver area. She currently uses Elisa testing for COVID-19 testing and has past experience with PCR as well. Candidate #3 is based in the North East US and has his MT(ASCP) certification. He has past experience with PCR, and is available for immediate work on COVID. Candidate #4 is experienced Lab Manager with ASCP certification seeking a travel opportunity at a lab performing molecular testing anywhere in the US. The surge in new lab testing related to coronavirus has created a big staffing shortage. We can assist your laboratory with recruiting staff or by adding a temp until things return to normal: Schedule a Call.

The Lab Insighter is a quarterly publication for Lab Owners and Decision Makers. Brought to you by:

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