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Senators Urge OIG to Review PODs
Physician-owned distributorships have come under the scrutiny of the Senate Finance Committee and prompted a bipartisan group of senators to urge the Office of Inspector General to determine "how these arrangements square with federal law."
POD's are just the tip of the iceberg. Many gastroenterologists, urologists, and dermatologists have organized histology specimen processing laboratories in their offices with the only goal of generating additional cash flow. A recent ACLA study found that the number of specimens per biopsy ordered in physician office settings are much higher than when ordered in a hospital outpatient setting. The OIG should recommend that the Stark "in-office exemption" be eliminated so patients and their insurance companies can stop paying for exorbitant biopsy fees when performed in physician office settings.