Medicare Competitive-Bidding Demonstration for Part B Laboratory Services Implementation Blocked by Injunction

OPEN MINDS On-Line News Strategic Health Care News On April 8, 2008, a Medicare demonstration project for competitively-bid laboratory services in the San Diego area was blocked from implementation by an injunction. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had accepted bids for a new competitive bidding program for lab services in San Diego, Carlsbad, and San Marcos and was prepared to announce the contract awards on April 11, 2008. CMS will now be required to go through a formal rulemaking process, with input from providers and laboratories prior to implementing a future bidding process. District Judge . . .