title: Utilization management in anatomic pathology.
abstract: There is relatively little published literature concerning utilization management in anatomic pathology. Nonetheless there are many utilization management opportunities that currently exist and are well recognized. Some of these impact only the cost structure within the pathology department itself whereas others reduce charges for third party payers. Utilization management may result in medical legal liabilities for breaching the standard of care. For this reason it will be important for pathology professional societies to develop national utilization guidelines to assist individual practices in implementing a medically sound approach to utilization management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gray 5, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit Street, Boston 02114, MA, United States. Electronic address: klewandrowski@partners.org.
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewandrowski
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Black-Schaffer
mesh_terms: D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010336:Pathology / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Anatomic pathology; Reimbursement; Surgical pathology; Utilization management