DEPARTMENT: Pathology and Laboratory Services
POLICY DESCRIPTION: Distribution of Fiscal Intermediary and Regulatory Information
APPROVED: April 20, 2001
EFFECTIVE DATE: April 20, 2001
REFERENCE NUMBER: LAB .012

SCOPE:
Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Staff

PURPOSE:
To ensure departmental managers, supervisors, laboratory compliance committee members and
departmental coding personnel receive current information regarding rules and regulations relating
to laboratory services and billing.

DEFINITIONS:
Newsletters:       Laboratory Compliance Insider
                        Vantage Point -- Clinical Laboratory Management Association
                        National Intelligence Report -- Washington G-2
                        Pathology/Lab Coding Alert -- The Coding Institute
                        Medical Laboratory Management Report -- IOMA 

Publications:       Medicare Provider News -- HCFA
                        Provider's News -- Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield

POLICY:
Pathology and Laboratory Services personnel will receive and review regulatory and fiscal
intermediary information, identify issues relating to his or her area of responsibility, and
initiate action to ensure compliance with all regulations and laws.

PROCEDURE:
1.    As newsletters and publications are received in the department, a review/routing slip is
stapled to the front of the cover.

2.    The newsletter or publication is then circulated to the Administrative Director, Managers,
Supervisors, and other staff in the Department as deemed necessary.

3.    As the document is reviewed, each person initials the routing slip and forwards to the next
person on the list.

4.    All newsletters and publications are filed in the published date order and will be maintained in
the Administrative Director's office.

5.    Any laboratory personnel will have access to any of the documents upon request.

REFERENCES:
The Office of Inspector General's Compliance Program Guidance for Clinical Laboratories,
August 1998.