The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the diagnostic testing. Getting the proper diagnosis can be challenging and timely process. Perhaps, it is very important to invest in the quality laboratory testing to allow faster diagnosing of the individual, which would lead to the faster and more efficient treatment. “An estimated 70% of all decisions regarding a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory test results” (questdiagnostic.com, n.d.). As it is mentioned above, in order to provide the best care to patients, it is necessary to invest in the laboratories, as the laboratories that …show more content…
This is very important factor in early diagnosing as well as early treatment. One of the ways to have very efficient labs is to have the complete process of testing improved and updated, and that includes and it is not limited to: provide the most up to date education and training for all individuals that are working in the laboratories, to have the most up to date equipment available, and to be able to provide the most accurate test results to eliminate the chance for the medical error (Leaven, 2015).
Operational efficiencies. On of the ways on how to operate efficiently and eliminate unnecessary costs is to consolidate testing sites which provides potential savings for all involved, faster turnaround time, decrease purchasing cost, and ease of implementation (questdiagnostic.com, n.d.).
Access to latest diagnostic testing and services. One of the ways to have the most sophisticated technology and provide the best services is to consolidate testing sites. According to the new Health Reform, Medicare payments are based on the hospital scores (Nexon & Ubl, 2010). One of the concerns that might result from this is if every hospital will be able to afford the highest and the most accurate diagnostic technologies to be able to provide the best assistance in diagnosing one’s medical …show more content…
This is concerning for all smaller regional and community laboratories
• If a health plan or insurer does not cover a certain lab test that is ordered by a physician, the process or mechanism for patients and/or laboratories the appeal the decision had been largely left up to the plan or insurer.
At the end, it is important to mention the explosion of Point Of Care Technology (POCT). Using this technology, all individuals who reside in rural areas will benefits by having their test results available, which can lead to immediate treatment (orchardsoft.com, 2015). According to Orchardsoft (2015), another benefits of POCT is that can improve consistency, accuracy, patient engagement, patient satisfaction, and the most importantly patient outcome.
It will be very interesting to see how ACA will be changed under new president and how much of those change will affect the diagnostic testing. It would be an imperative for all current as well as future lawmakers to always thing about human being and their wellness as their first priority, and financial aspect as the second