CAPcasts

Pathologists could lose, or gain, $2.1 billion over seven years in Medicare’s new quality payment programs. This represents the difference between pathologists gaining the full possible Medicare payment bonuses or receiving the payment penalties. Pathologists need to understand Medicare’s merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) program as it relates to reducing the burden of participating, understanding and maximizing scoring, and seeking measures and improvement activities with maximum scoring and bonus point potential, explain Drs. Emily Volk and Diana Cardona in this CAPcast. Drs. Volk and Cardona are leading a CAP19 session on Monday, September 23 at 9:30am. Register now for CAP19: www.capannualmeeting.org.

Highly sensitive next-generation sequencing-based assays have driven a rapid expansion of gene-disease associations for a diverse group of segmental overgrowth syndromes. In this CAPcast, Dr. Jonathan Heusel, a pathologist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, discusses the medical director’s role in selecting both the appropriate assays and the reference laboratories to ensure high diagnostic yield. Dr. Heusel lead the development of a case-based course on this topic as part of the CAP’s Clinical Pathology Improvement Program—or CPIP: https://capatholo.gy/2xGJxbd.

Pathologists frequently evaluate peripheral blood smears for lymphocytosis or the presence of abnormal lymphoid cells. In this CAPcast, Dr. Kyle Bradley discusses benign and malignant lymphoproliferative disorders, which is the topic of a course he is teaching at CAP19, which will be held Sept. 21-25 in Orlando, Florida. Learn more and register for CAP19: www.capannualmeeting.org.

Pathologists can help improve patient care by staying up to date on the most recent recommendations on genomic testing for solid tumors, which can be a challenge since this information changes frequently. In this CAPcast, Drs. Leilani Valdes and Sophia Yohe discuss some of the key changes in genomic testing for oncology specimens, as well as how changing cancer treatment paradigms are changing the role of the pathologist. Drs. Valdes and Yohe will be teaching a CAP19 course entitled, “Molecular Genomic Oncology for the Practicing Surgical Pathologist” on Sept. 23. For more information and to register for CAP19, visit www.capannualmeeting.org.

Practice Management skills such as budgeting, cost forecasting, and understanding payment models are not concepts taught in medical school. But pathologists need to develop and master these skills in order to advance their careers and manage a pathology department or practice, according to Dr. Robert L. Breckenridge, the Southwest Regional Medical Director for Quest Diagnostics. Dr. Breckenridge is also a member of the CAP’s Practice Management Committee, whose members are sponsoring an upcoming Practice Management Workshop (https://capatholo.gy/2W3Jmkf) on August 17 - 18, 2019.

In this CAPcast, Dr. Breckenridge will discuss why it’s important for pathologists to develop business acumen along with their diagnostic expertise, and what business skills need to be developed for career advancement.

Supporting the platelet transfusion needs of refractory patients is very resource intensive. These patients present numerous challenges for all clinical providers, including pathologists, because they typically have multiple comorbidities, are receiving multiple medications, and given the low platelet count, are at risk for bleeding. Because of the suboptimal response to platelets, these patients typically receive more transfusions compared to non-refractory patients, according to Dr. Monica Pagano, Medical Director of the Transfusion Service Laboratory at UW Medical Center in Seattle, in this CAPcast. Dr. Pagano lead the development of a case-based course on this topic as part of the CAP’s Clinical Pathology Improvement Program—or CPIP (https://capatholo.gy/2X6gb0b).

Evolving regulatory guidance, changing reimbursement rules, staffing shortages and other concerns are creating more challenges for laboratory leaders.

The latest edition of the Laboratory Administration for Pathologists (https://capatholo.gy/2F1uLzT) provides laboratory managers with practical knowledge to identify situations which could lead to sanctions as well as strategies to improve their laboratory. Understanding and responding to changes in regulation can help to improve patient safety, ensure laboratory viability and reduce risk of sanctions or loss of accreditation, explains leading pathologist and co-author of this second edition, Dr. Elizabeth Wagar in this CAPcast.

Practicing pathologists continue to be vexed by issues that are related to payment for the services that they provide. However, better understanding the payment structure will enable pathologists to examine their own practices and adapt to reimbursement changes. In this CAPcast, Dr. Jonathan Myles, a member of the CAP Board of Governors and an expert on pathology reimbursement policies, discusses the fundamental processes associated with payment for services under Physician Fee Schedule Medicare Part B as well payment associated with the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, both topics which he will discuss during a course he will be leading with Dr. Marc Synovec at CAP19 in Orlando, Florida: www.capannualmeeting.org.

Since pathologists have oversight responsibility for testing, they should be involved in the pre-analytic and post-analytic phases of testing, as well as optimizing the analytic phase, to deliver the highest quality of care to our patients. In addition, pathologists are often leaders in the hospital and healthcare setting, where the cost of care delivery is scrutinized. Pathologists are in a unique position to recommend the appropriate testing algorithms that optimize patient care and decreases waste, both of which in turn saves healthcare dollars, according to Cleveland Clinic pathologist Dr. Gary Procop, who will be teaching a course on this topic at on Sept. 21 at CAP19 in Orlando, Florida. Register now: www.capannualmeeting.org.

Genitourinary (GU) neoplasia is a continuously evolving diagnostic area and GU cases are among some of the most common diagnoses in today’s practice. In this CAPcast, Dr. Donna Hansel will discuss recent guideline changes and advancements in this pathology specialty.

Dr. Hansel will be one of the faculty members teaching a day-long course on GU pathology at CAP19 in Orlando, Florida. Her co-faculty members include Drs. Mahul B. Amin; John C. Cheville, Peter A. Humphrey, Anil Parwani, and Debra L. Zynger. For more information and to register for CAP19, please visit capannualmeeting.org.