UnitedHealthcare to Move Forward With Lab Benefits Program

UnitedHealthcare will move forward with secondary review and subspecialty certification requirements as part of its laboratory benefits management pilot program in Florida. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) had requested that UnitedHealthcare suspend its planned implementation of the pilot program that affect more than 80 laboratory services ordered for patients covered by most Florida UnitedHealthcare commercial plans. The program requires use of the Beacon Laboratory Benefits Solution to provide notification for the frequently performed tests. CAP says it continues to have concerns over fundamental flaws with the program, which it says will negatively affect patient access to services, delay results, and create inconsistencies with current clinical practice, professional judgment, and laboratory operations. Although the pilot began on Oct. 1, UnitedHealthcare has delayed enforcement of the program until after Jan. 1, 2015.