Draw or Test
Posted on April 13, 2010 in Featured-writers
by Brian Woodard
Every agency has this dilemma. Should we purchase coagulation instruments or draw blood and carry the sample to the lab? Many have answered this question and have been testing in the patient's home for over eight years. Try to take their instruments away and you get a fight.
Since the beginning of PPS, agencies thought that since it was not reimbursable, it was not needed as an extra cost. This perception is somewhat false. Administratively speaking, agencies will benefit from doing the test in the field in many ways. Some members may have more or other benefits that I have not listed. Please email me with those so I can incorporate them into the main list.
Main Advantages of ProTime Testing in Patient's Home
* Stat results, nurse can call Dr. for dosage change
* Nurse now can adjust pill box for patient
* Finger stick is more pleasant than venous draw
* Drive time for nurse to lab is minimum 20 minutes @ $25.00 per hour; you have just spent $8.33 one-way
* Coffee with lab buddies 15 minutes
* The number of times the lab has requested a second sample for whatever reason now a whole unpaid visit
* The mileage the nurse record & charges to get to the lab, 5 miles @ $.44 per mile equals $2.20 one way
* Reimbursement for this test is already accumulated with savings from above, and is documented immediately
* The 20 plus minutes in drive time each way would afford time for nurse to make another visit with another patient. A billable visit to increase profit.
* There is no memory chip that limits a box of strips usage to one machine. With the ProTime Cuvettes box of twenty five can be divided among as many Nurses as wanted. With the other machine you must buy a box of 48 strips to be used only on that machine. Huge waste of Inventory & Money sitting on the shelf.
* No more phone call after hours from lab with patient's results
Another announcement I would like to make it that CMS has identified their mistake in not reimbursing CLIA-waived Agencies performing PT/INR and seven other CLIA tests including GLUCOSE. These tests are now and have been reimbursable, but you do have to do a little more work. You must also apply for a lab license for CMS. You are already a lab if you are CLIA-waived, but need the second license to get paid. You then can go back up to one year and get paid for all eight CLIA tests that you have performed with doctor's orders. I have a source that will do this work for you at a price of course. My website, if anyone is interested is www.pmdsinc.net. I can discuss any and all cost associated with PT/INR testing and reimbursement.
© 2010 Brian Woodard. All rights reserved.
Brian Woodard is the sales & marketing director for Progressive Medical Systmes (PMDS). He received his BS from Florida State University in 1974 in Business & Multinational Business Affairs. He has 20 years of food & beverage Management with Eastern, Continental and Western Air Lines. He was the medical device sales manager QAS for CLIA Waived Diagnostic Equipment which produced anticoagulation machines for patients and professionals. He developed professional market for PT/INR and Cholesterol Instruments for QAS and also introduced the INRatio by Hemosense and the Harmony by Johnson & Johnson to the professional healthcare market. He opened Progressive Medical Diagnostic Systems (PMDS) with Brad Palmer in 2005.
Get In Touch
Call us at 888-897-9136 about support, assistance, service issues or any other questions. Or...
Contact Us Online