2019 Program

Track 1 – Analytics & Data

With continued pressure on labs due to fee-for-service margins and the move to value based care, many labs are seeking new ways to derive value from their clinical data. In this session, Prognos will share its experience on where the value of lab data lies and how it can be enhanced using artificial intelligence (AI). The session will cover implications for labs and set the stage to realize additional value from laboratory data.

Attendees will learn:

• The value of lab data
• Examples where lab data is of value
• How AI and machine learning can further unlock value
• Suggestions for getting started

Presented By: Aron Seidman, Prognos

Track 2 – Lab Management

The overall purpose of the presentation will be to provide insight to today’s market conditions with respect to the viability of hospital laboratory outreach programs, why private health plans are steering patients away from hospital based labs, how PAMA impacted hospital lab services, why executives are reluctant to say yes to strategies to grow outreach, and forecasts for the future of hospital outreach. Has it reached end of life, is it in a down cycle, or is the industry poised for major growth in the next decade?

At the conclusion of this session participants will:

• Know why private payers are steering patients away from hospital labs
• Understand why hospital executives are reluctant to pursue hospital outreach growth strategies
• Have a long term forecast for hospital outreach

Presented By: Jeff Myers, Accumen Inc.

Track 3 – Adding Value to Your Lab

EKRA is literally a game changer for the way labs market their tests, and for how the Anti-Kickback Statute is applied to commercial insurance claims. While congress probably intended for EKRA to apply only to labs that obtain referrals from sober homes and treatment facilities, it is drafted to apply to all clinical labs This session will explore the similarities and differences between the Anti-Kickback Statute and Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act, identify current and potential regulatory exceptions adopted by the DOJ, analyze the practical impact of EKRA on labs, and explore how labs are responding to EKRA. The session will also take a look at EKRA and ACO arrangements.At the end of the session, attendees will:

• Understand the Eliminating Kickbacks and Recovery Act
• Spot arrangements that are impacted by EKRA; and
• Engage in a Risk Assessment for EKRA compliance

Presented By: Adam Walters, Walters Law PC

Track 1 – Analytics & Data

It used to be a “buzzword” but now artificial intelligence (AI) can provide practical tools for laboratory managers to better understand and manage laboratory operations. Laboratories are repositories of vast amounts of significant clinical and anatomic data. Unfortunately, much of this data is unstructured and difficult to correlate and analyze. AI, by incorporating text analytics and machine learning, allows for a more thorough interrogation of both unstructured and structured data through machine-learned algorithms. AI offers laboratories, as the source of the preponderance of clinical data for a patient, to be a major contributor to improved patient care. When AI tools correlate, analyze and interpret laboratory data in conjunction with radiological, pharmaceutical, physical examination and symptomatic data quicker and better diagnoses and therapies can be prescribed. This presentation will discuss the current “state-of-the art” of artificial intelligence and the potential for its use in laboratories.

After attending the session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the functions and potentials of artificial intelligence
• Explain how artificial intelligence may be applied in laboratories
• Justify further investigation into artificial intelligence, its utilization, its practicality, and prospective sources of AI for your laboratory

Presented By: Larry T Wimberly, Wimberly Consulting Services LLC

Track 2 – Lab Management

• Discuss procedural and diagnosis coding changes for 2020
• Describe proposed changes in government reimbursement
• Discuss pertinent policies and issues affecting coverage
• As time allows, delve into additional topics of interest or concern

Presented By: Diana Voorhees, DV & Associates

Track 3 – Adding Value to Your Lab

This session will look billing and collections trends, governmental changes, PAMA, EKRA, managed care trends, industry trends, such as BitCoin and Amazon entering the market and the overall tasks that need to be performed to ensure your lab is moving forward in a profitable manner.

After this presentation, attendees will

• understand the changes taking place in the government, such as PAMA and EKRA
• learn the basics of a lab revenue strategy
• know what to implement to be in front of the changes taking place

Presented By: Mick Raich, Vachette Pathology

Track 1 – Analytics & Data

This session is an introduction to Image Analysis and Automated workflow for increasing speed and efficiency for the lab. When this is coupled with Digital Pathology, the benefits are compounded for time to diagnosis for the patient and an increase in ROI for the lab.

After attending the session, participants will:

• Know how image analysis can be used within the laboratory workflow.
• Gain a deeper knowledge of how automating workflow in specific key areas can increase the speed of a diagnosis for the patient.
• Be able to bring a solid, computable ROI to their lab management.

Presented By: Lisa-Jean Clifford, Gestalt Diagnostics

Track 2 – Lab Management

This session will address emerging legal issues in the Medicare audit appeal landscape and how it specifically affects Toxicology and Genetic Testing Laboratories. Audit programs, such as the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) audit, can have detrimental effects on providers. Given the significant rise in toxicology and genetic testing as well as Medicare and other third-party audits, protecting a laboratory from these audits has never been more relevant. This session will educate attendees on the key audit risk areas and how to reduce this risk, how to respond to TPE audits, as well as how to defend a Medicare Appeal in the case of an audit. Specifically, this session will cover the defenses of waiver of liability and provider without fault, which are particularly applicable to laboratories.

After this presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Identify and defend against highly targeted audit defense issues affecting laboratories, including genetic, pharmacogenomic, and toxicology testing.
• Employ strategic approaches and practical tips to consider and implement when appealing overpayment demands and claim denials through the changing Medicare appeals process. Specifically, the presentation will discuss strategic approaches to TPE audits.
• Develop compliance strategies to reduce audit risk.

Presented By: Andrew Wachler, Wachler & Associates

Track 3 – Adding Value to Your Lab

Field representation is critical in today’s lab environment in order to win the competitive battle. To be effective, one must understand the different sales methodologies that are required for success. This presentation discusses various aspects of strategy and tactics and other important points that will prepare field reps to be dominate their respective territory. It also discusses the dos and don’ts of designing an optimal sales training program.

After this session, attendees will learn:

• How to optimize sales performance
• Different sales technique
• How to design a sales training program

Presented By: Peter Francis, Clinical Laboratory Sales Training, LLC