October 1999 Newsletter

Presidents Message

By David Young

The fall season is a wonderful time of the year, especially in Utah. Warm days, cool crisp nights, and the days growing shorter with the sun setting earlier every day, casting a golden glow on our magnificent mountains. This is also a great time for you to leave your own professional healthcare environment and spend a few days to get refreshed and rested while learning new ideas and skills.

I invite you to travel to the crown jewel of all National Parks, Zion, on November 4 and 5th, and join us at our 11th Annual CLMA Fall Conference. This year, we have selected two speakers: Michael Bahr, Assistant Vice President and Chief Actuary for IHC Plans, who will tell us "Where Managed Care is Going," and Rhonda Paige, instructor for the IHC University, who will share with us the skills and tools to successfully manage projects and everyday workloads. There will be time for networking opportunities and to share information and experiences with colleagues and friends.

This year, through the interest and generosity of corporate sponsorship, CLMA is able to keep the cost of attendance down for the Fall Conference and for future educational programs. The Utah Chapter is offering a new program to industry, "Partners Into the Future." This is a sponsorship program that mutually benefits the Utah Chapter with funding and gives our industry partners special opportunities to network, advertise, and promote public relations with chapter members.

May I invite each of you to become more active in the Utah Chapter by running for a leadership position in 2000, attending meetings and conferences, or becoming a committee member? Be informed. Get involved.

A map to Zion Park Inn can be found on our website:

Http://users.sisna.com/paulk

Power Breakfast

by Maxine Garwood

At our September power breakfast, Dr. Owen Ash challenged us by asking "How will you meet the changes of the new millennium?" He introduced us to the Delta project that he is chairing for AACC. The Delta Project's purpose is to help members succeed in the changing practice environment by strengthening clinical, scientific, technical and management competencies. Dr. Ash suggested that we each take some time to do a self-analysis to determine where we are and where we want to be. He suggested that we each need to identify competencies that will increase our value. I guess you might say that I have recently done just that, yet I find for me it is a continual process I do even if it is not always consciously.

Member spotlight

My new position with ARUP as Quality and Compliance Coordinator for the University of Utah Hospital Clinical and Anatomic Pathology Laboratories is a result of a combination of several factors. Why would I want to change? For me it was why not? I am more satisfied with my professional life when I am a part of continual changes and challenges. New challenges make for positive action and you do not have time to be unhappy about the present situation.

Maybe I was bored. I did feel that I had accomplished many milestones in my last training camp and was ready for a new team. For some it may be seem easier to stay where they are because they are comfortable and feel that they have arrived, so to say. For me I find that I am happier when I feel continually challenged and growing.

At any rate I found myself looking for new opportunities. As I put together my resume, I relied on the broad spectrum of strengths and competencies I had learned often because there was no other expert in my company to rely upon. For example, I was continually asked by other department personnel to "be the expert" on any and all topics relating remotely to laboratory services such as CLIA, HCFA, OSHA, coding, quality assurance, budgeting, insurance claims, and so on.

With a resume reflective of my strengths and competencies, I began to let it be known in my very important CLMA networking community that I was ready to entertain new challenges. My new position is definitely a combination of having a wide variety of developed skills from accepting the challenges that come along and being willing to do whatever it takes to learn the necessary competencies and being open to where your new skills may lead you. I am already looking for ways to strengthening my competencies where I am weak so that I am even a more valued member of the team.

I challenge each of you to do a self-analysis and determine your strengths and competencies and then choose some new areas to becoming competent in. You must be willing to step up and accept the opportunities that come your way and be visionary in your outlook. Good luck.

Correction

We inadvertently attributed the health car policy article in the last issue to the wrong author. The great article on the Medicare Advisory Committee was written by Dr. Ron Weiss, who serves on that committee and is a CLMA member.

Health Care Policy Update

By Kathy Carlson

Negotiated Rulemaking Committee

The final agreement signed August 31, 1999 establishes national coverage policies and administrative issues for the laboratory industry. Input on administrative issues and national coverage policies were provided by CLMA workgroups. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register some time before the end of 1999. Watch for more information in future issues of Vantage Point and on the national CLMA web site.

Laboratories Exempt from New JCAHO Unannounced Survey Policy

Finally! Somebody out there was listening. Since labs are already subject to their fair share of more frequent and unannounced surveys by states, HCFA, OSHA, and the FDA, JCAHO recently stated that "another unannounced survey possibility would be an undue burden and duplication of the survey process". Hurrah!

Free HCFA Medicare Online Courses

A reminder - CLMA members may enroll for free Medicare courses, offered by HCFA and First Coast Service Options (FCSO). Selections include:

* Medicare fraud and abuse

* ICD-9-CDM diagnosis coding

* HCFA-1500 claims form

* HCFA-1450 claims form

Visit www.clma.org or www.medicaretraining.com

CPT Code Update

By Kathy Carlson

Just when you think you've got it figured out! A major shakeup of CPT organ/disease panel codes effective January 1, 2000 was unveiled at the Washington G-2 meetings in October.

Surprises: CPT 2000 incorporates many changes that we were all aware of, but also unfurled new developments, most notably the elimination of the thyroid panels 80091-92 and the creation of a new 10-test renal function panel. The CPT editorial board gave final approval to a new automated panel for renal function, the addition of one test each to the three existing automated panels (basic and comprehensive metabolic and the hepatic function studies) and the creation of a new panel for acute hepatitis.

Changes

HCFA however is planning to delay Medicare implementation of the new and revised automated panels until at least April, though other CPT changes are expected to be adopted in January.

Future:

I had the opportunity to work with the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) over the last few months requesting both new CPT codes and changes to existing codes. It is a very lengthy process and those that were submitted would not be potentially implemented until 2001. It is important in the CPT process for procedures to have broad national use and the support of national organizations.

A list was generated by ACLA and reviewed by member laboratories, CLMA, and other organizations such ASHI and ASM. Recommendations were reviewed from all the groups with the large list being prioritized in order of importance. The application includes a clinical vignette, a description of the procedure, the frequency of the test performed, use by specific specialties or subspecialties, references among others. These are then submitted to the CPT editorial board for review and approval.

There is strength in numbers! Please use CLMA and other national organizations to provide input regarding this important process.

Nominations

By Susie Adams

What an opportunity!

Have you ever felt that you needed to get more involved? Wouldn't it be a good professional move to contribute your talents, expertise, and time and become a leader in the only clinical management organization in healthcare? Here's your chance! It is time to begin identifying nominees for the 2000 ballot. Networking with colleagues and other members of CLMA at The Zion Fall Meeting or at a Power Breakfast is a good time to decide if you or a member you know would like to run for an office.

There are four elected positions available for the February ballot. The positions and responsibilities are:

President-elect: Plan the Spring and Fall meetings, coordinate with the treasurer and expenditures for both meetings, attend the board retreat in the spring, all board meetings and national meeting. Assumes the responsibilities of Chapter President at the end of your term. Serves as Past President after term.

Secretary: Take minutes at all board meetings and disburse by mail or e-mail, maintain communications among board members, oversee chapter communications, chapter newsletter, meetings, and events and attend the board retreat and all board meetings. Two Year Term

Board member (2): Assists president-elect in the planning of meetings to include workshop selection, vendor participation coordination. Responsible for increasing membership and promoting the CLMA organizations and obtaining input from the membership and providing input at board meetings. Participate in officer nominations and elections. Attend the board retreat and all board meetings. Two Year Term

A board retreat is scheduled after elections to review the past year and plan for the year ahead. Board meetings follow Power Breakfasts and during the Spring and Fall meetings. The use of electronic communications reduces the time away from work. This opportunity not only gives you exposure to new ideas, but to develop relationships with a dedicated and diverse group of colleagues. Please send any nominees to me at susie.ceradams@aros.net, or give me a call (801) 596-2220.


2000 Spring meeting

By Paul Keoppel

The Utah CLMA Board of Directors has decided to move in a different direction with our annual spring meeting. In the past we have co-sponsored the meeting with the Utah Chapter of Clinical Laboratory Scientists (USCLS). It was mutually agreed upon by both boards that the topics selected for the spring meetings do not completely serve the respective memberships.

This coming year the two societies will hold separate meetings. The USCLS will concentrate on issues vital to technologists. We will have sessions designed to meet our association's mission - tools for management.

This coming year's meeting will held for only one day instead of two as in the past. This should make it easier for busy managers to get out of the lab. We are planning on holding the meeting in Park City in the middle of April, on a Friday. We are still negotiating for a location. The topics we are pursuing include: leadership skills, financial skills, human resources, outreach planning, leading edge technology and general management skills.

As Dave mentioned in the President's Article, we have conceived a new way of working with our vendor supporters. Instead of having exhibit booths we will offer time to vendors to address the group for 10-15 minutes. The vendors we have contacted are very excited about this. They will have the attention of the whole group and won't have to say the same things over and over as when at a booth. The concept proved so popular for our fall meeting that we had to turn some requests down and defer them to the spring meeting.

If anyone has suggestions for topics or speakers for the spring meeting please contact one of the board members.

Members on the move - Jason Wilkerson

By Susie Adams

Jason Wilkerson is an example of why CLMA is enlarging its focus to Clinical Systems Management. In March, Jason moved from Assistant Laboratory Manager at Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi to Director of Ancillary Services at Allen Memorial Hospital in Moab. His new responsibilities include the departments of Radiology, Respiratory Therapy and Laboratory. He supervises a staff of 12. Jason enjoys the community of Moab and looks forward to selling his house in Nephi, moving his young family to Moab and not commuting 220 miles. When his live settles down Jason has a lot to offer CLMA!