Two senators are scrutinizing three major payors and two clinical lab testing companies, seeking information about potential "pull-through" schemes, according to a news release from the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.
Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) sent letters asking Cigna, Laboratory Corporation of America, Aetna, UnitedHealth Group and Quest Diagnostics for copies of lab service agreements, correspondence related to contract negotiations, presentations to boards about contracts, presentations to clinical lab testing providers and other documents related to pull-through practices.
A pull-through practice involves a lab testing company contracting with a payor for a discounted rate. In exchange, that payor directs in-network physicians to refer lab testing business to that company, including testing for Medicare beneficiaries.
The senators requested the companies turn over the documents by Dec. 1.
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Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) sent letters asking Cigna, Laboratory Corporation of America, Aetna, UnitedHealth Group and Quest Diagnostics for copies of lab service agreements, correspondence related to contract negotiations, presentations to boards about contracts, presentations to clinical lab testing providers and other documents related to pull-through practices.
A pull-through practice involves a lab testing company contracting with a payor for a discounted rate. In exchange, that payor directs in-network physicians to refer lab testing business to that company, including testing for Medicare beneficiaries.
The senators requested the companies turn over the documents by Dec. 1.
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