Laboratories are seeing a beacon in Florida. It is not coming from a lighthouse. It is related to UnitedHealth Group using LabCorp’s Beacon management system to start a preauthorization program for pathology and lab services in the Sunshine State. The Minnesota-based health insurance giant launched a pilot program in Florida on Oct. 1. BeaconLBS is a LabCorp subsidiary that focuses on laboratory and medical practice consulting. Its software system had previously been marketed toward smaller and medium-sized labs to better manage their workflow and business operations. In announcing the program earlier this year to its provider network in Florida, UnitedHealth said it was “to help improve quality of care and manage appropriate utilization for outpatient laboratory services.” It will cover UnitedHealth’s commercial lives, but not its large Medicare Advantage population or other books of business. UnitedHealth spokesperson Tracey Lempner said in an e-mail that “any potential expansion of the program will be based off what we learn from the pilot.” However, Lempner also noted that “any claim impacts related to the program will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2015. This allows additional time for providers to acclimate to the program.” The preauthorization is fairly extensive. Physicians will have…
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