Clinical laboratory professionals perform a wide range of tests to provide information for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Laboratory tests are classified into four major areas: microbiology, blood banking, clinical chemistry and hematology. Clinical laboratory professionals collect and process specimens, perform tests, analyze and interpret results, and report data. Each of these steps requires high standards of quality, accuracy and timeliness. Laboratory personnel are categorized into two major groups based on education, training, and the laboratory tests they can perform: medical technologists (MTs), and medical laboratory technicians (MLTs). The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) sets the education and training
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The law includes many new benefits and protections for health care consumers. Some of the major benefits include: elimination the life-time and annual benefit limits, insuring people with pre-existing conditions, free preventive care, and expanding the Medicaid program. ACA requires most Americans to have health insurance coverages. Individuals, families and small business employers can choose and buy health insurance policies through competitive insurance markets, and can receive premium tax credits or subsidies if eligible. The Affordable Care Act contains rules and regulations for insurance companies, like requiring insurance companies to spend premiums primarily on health care. To sustain and expand the health care workforce, ACA establishes educational programs and committees for professional recruiting and training. Since ACA is making changes within the whole health care system, it will have profound and unpredictable effects on the practice and regulations of clinical laboratories. Because of the increased number of insured people, easier access to insurance coverages and free preventive care, clinical laboratories are going to face an increase in the volume of laboratory tests. In addition, ACA emphasizes on preventive and routine care, so more tests will be ordered by physicians to monitor health and chronic diseases. To lower health care cost, ACA’s main strategy is to restructure and reduce Medicare and Medicaid spending, for example, reducing Medicare payments to hospital providers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is changing the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) to decrease laboratory reimbursements. A new market-based rate system will be implemented by CMS starting in 2017 (AACC website). Medicare will
The law includes many new benefits and protections for health care consumers. Some of the major benefits include: elimination the life-time and annual benefit limits, insuring people with pre-existing conditions, free preventive care, and expanding the Medicaid program. ACA requires most Americans to have health insurance coverages. Individuals, families and small business employers can choose and buy health insurance policies through competitive insurance markets, and can receive premium tax credits or subsidies if eligible. The Affordable Care Act contains rules and regulations for insurance companies, like requiring insurance companies to spend premiums primarily on health care. To sustain and expand the health care workforce, ACA establishes educational programs and committees for professional recruiting and training. Since ACA is making changes within the whole health care system, it will have profound and unpredictable effects on the practice and regulations of clinical laboratories. Because of the increased number of insured people, easier access to insurance coverages and free preventive care, clinical laboratories are going to face an increase in the volume of laboratory tests. In addition, ACA emphasizes on preventive and routine care, so more tests will be ordered by physicians to monitor health and chronic diseases. To lower health care cost, ACA’s main strategy is to restructure and reduce Medicare and Medicaid spending, for example, reducing Medicare payments to hospital providers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is changing the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) to decrease laboratory reimbursements. A new market-based rate system will be implemented by CMS starting in 2017 (AACC website). Medicare will