Sorry Geoff but I think your analogy is too simplistic. I don't claim to be
an expert on the Stark Law but I've been given the same impression expressed by
Tim that we are discouraged ( told it is a violation) to call each other up and
share price lists. I'm no attorney but I'm also not interested in having to
prove the legality of my actions in a court of law. I certainly don't want a
regulatory agency producing my request for pricing from a public list.
the milk analogy really doesnt apply. Your cost to perform a stain in your
lab could be quite different than my cost, based upon if nothing else
geographical differences in salaries. You may purchase your stains premade and I
may make mine here in the lab from cheap raw materials. Reimbursement for that
service may also be quite different in your state than in mine. If I call you
and decide to adopt your price structure (which you may have adopted from
someone else), my fee is no longer based upon my cost of doing business but
based upon someone else's opinion of what a "good" price is.
The individual who wrote in to a public list asking for pricing deserves to
know that his/her actions may be in violation of the Stark Law.. He/she also
deserves to know that his/her price should be based upon the actual cost of
performing the test, and not upon my cost (or yours) of performing the
test.
I guess we are all free to decide if we are willing to risk having to
endure the stress and cost of proving our point in a legal forum
>>> Geoff McAuliffe <mcauliff@UMDNJ.EDU> 11/13/02
05:04PM >>>
I am getting very tired of both
friendly warnings and outright threats
about "collusion" in the setting of
lab fees. People need to look up
collusion in the dictionary or better still,
consult an attorney. While you
are at it, find out what "restraint of trade"
is. You can get sued for that,
too. Setting lab fees based on what others
charge is NOT collusion. All of
the grocery stores in my neighborhood charge
about the same for a gallon of
milk. That does not mean they are in
collusion.
Geoff
"Morken, Tim" wrote:
> Just a friendly
warning: Asking other labs about their rates and setting
> rates according
to what other labs tell you they charge can be considered
> collusion by
people looking for someone to sue!
>
> Tim Morken
>
Atlanta
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Houston, Ronnie
[
mailto:Ronnie_Houston@bshsi.com]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 12:55 PM
> To:
histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: derm tech service
only
>
> Can anyone share the going
rate for a Tech service only charge for
>
Dermatology clients; 3 levels, H&E
only.
>
>
Thanks
> Ronnie
Houston
> Regional Histology Operations
Manager
> Bon Secours HealthPartners
Laboratories
> 5801 Bremo
Road
> Richmond, VA
23226
--
**********************************************
Geoff
McAuliffe, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical
School
675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
voice: (732)-235-4583; fax:
-4029
mcauliff@umdnj.edu
**********************************************