Medicare: Laboratory Fee Schedules Produced Large Beneficiary Savings but No Program Savings
HRD-88-32
Published: Dec 22, 1987. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 1987.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the appropriateness and impact of Medicare's fee schedule payment system for clinical diagnostic laboratory services.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| The Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce should take action to prevent adoption of a national laboratory fee schedule based on prevailing charges because using that methodology would increase Medicare costs. | The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 repealed the requirement for a national fee schedule for clinical diagnostic laboratory services. | |
| The Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce should take action to prevent adoption of a national laboratory fee schedule based on prevailing charges because using that methodology would increase Medicare costs. | The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 repealed the requirement for a national fee schedule for clinical diagnostic laboratory services. | |
| The Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce should take action to prevent adoption of a national laboratory fee schedule based on prevailing charges because using that methodology would increase Medicare costs. | The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 repealed the requirement for a national fee schedule for clinical diagnostic laboratory services. |
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Topics
Disease detection or diagnosisHealth care facilitiesHealth insurance cost controlLaboratoriesMedical feesMedicareStatistical methodsHospitalsBeneficiariesPhysicians