The Pap smear payment saga

International Conference on Cytopathology

August 31-September 02, 2015 Toronto, Canada

James Joseph Navin

College of American Pathologist, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Cytol Histol

Abstract :

Commercial labs set a pattern of low payment for Pap smears. They allowed clinicians to bill for the Paps as long as they sent the other work to the lab. This led to a marked reduction in payment to other labs which did Paps and resulted in Pap smears becoming a money losing test for the other labs. Insurance companies and Medicare lowered their payment as well. This produced financial problems for many labs. Some lived with the problem others began to reduce costs by screening faster not using cytotechs and other ventures that greatly reduced quality. Upon recognizing the problem we began to fix it. We first went after local payors and when that was fixed we went after the Federal Government, the following is the story of what transpired. It encompasses about 4 years of work which included going to DC every month sometime 3-4 times to meet with the players. Honolulu by the way is not very close to DC.

Biography :

James Joseph Navin MD Graduate from Creighton University, and he went back in the army in the senior year. He was in Internship US Army Tripler Army Med Center, Honolulu in 1962-63. He was on the post of Pathology Residency TAMC between 1963-1967 and the Chair of Anatomical Pathology TAMC 1969- 1972 and Chair of Pathology Straub Clinic and Hospital & also at Kapiolani Women’s and Childrens Hospital and SmithKline Lab. He is the first Cytopathologist in Hawaii and received multiple awards as teacher of the year from American Society of Cytopathology for outstanding advocacy efforts. He is President of American Pathology foundation and having recognition from ACOG for career long dedication to Women’s Health Care

Email: jnavindr@aol.com