Lighthouse Lab Services

During our webinar last week on laboratory career advancement opportunities, one point from Erik Korte, PhD, DABCC, became abundantly clear: There is no "one-size-fits-all" path to professional growth in the lab industry. And that's a good thing! The flexibility and variety of opportunities mean you can chart a course that aligns with your skills, interests, and long-term goals. Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion: ?? Education and Certification Open Doors Advancing from an associate degree to a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate can unlock new responsibilities and career tracks. Certifications and past experience also demonstrate specialized expertise and can enhance your professional value. For example, medical technologists with large hospital experience are incredibly valuable due to their advanced skills and ability to manage complex testing environments. ?? There Are Multiple Paths to Leadership Pursuing a Master of Science, Master of Health Administration (MHA), or MBA can open doors to administrative and managerial roles. Each degree offers a unique focus: an MHA leans toward clinical operations and patient care, while an MBA typically emphasizes business strategy and financial management. Both pathways can lead to leadership positions, with some professionals even combining advanced business knowledge with laboratory expertise to become lab owners or directors. ?? Specialization Can Set You Apart Post-doctoral fellowships in areas like clinical chemistry, molecular genetics, or bioinformatics allow for deep specialization. Certain fields, such as HLA testing for transplants, require highly specialized knowledge but offer unique and rewarding career experiences. ???? ???? Mentorship Matters Building relationships with supportive managers and lab directors can be a game-changer. Communicating your career goals allows leadership to guide and prepare you for future opportunities. If your aspiration is to grow into a leadership role or pursue additional education, don’t be afraid to share those ambitions. Forward-thinking leaders value professional growth and can help you pave the way. In short, no matter where you are in your career, there is always room to grow! We'd love to hear more in the comments about how you've navigated your professional growth and what advice you have for others looking to advance in this dynamic field. #MedicalLaboratory #CareerDevelopment #LabLeadership

Things are off to a great start at Clinical Lab 2.0 in Chicago! We're looking forward to two days of discussing the future of lab diagnostics and how value-based care will drive change in both care and reimbursements. Be sure to say "hey" to Jon Harol if you see him in attendance! #valuebasedcare #clinicallaboratory #laboratorymedicine #conference

?? Recent updates by Novitas and First Coast Service Options MACs regarding genetic testing coverage for oncology. The finalized LCDs L39365 and L39367, effective April 24, 2025, include several key changes: -Coverage Framework: The review of genetic tests will no longer be outsourced to three third-party compendia (National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, OncoKb, and ClinGen). These knowledgebases will still be used as evidence resources. -Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: Genetic tests for hereditary cancer syndromes will not be limited to once per patient’s lifecycle. The decision to retest will be left to the patient's provider. -Billing Codes: The list of diagnostic billing codes has been expanded to ensure uniform coverage. Thanks to our RCM Team for providing this key update. If you need more information or further clarification, don't hesitate to reach out to us. #Medicare #genetictesting #diagnostictesting #oncology

It's clear the cost of operating a medical laboratory has increased on average in recent decades as personnel shortages, equipment costs, and other administrative factors have driven expenses up. With that in mind, some hospital administrators may view the laboratory as a cost center or necessary expense. But what if the lab was instead viewed as a profit center and valuable asset? In this short video, leadership from Lighthouse Lab Services, The Compass Group Laboratory Leaders, and Clinical Lab 2.0 debate the current perception of the lab as a cost center and what data and advocacy will be necessary to change those optics. Check it out below, and head over to our YouTube channel if you'd like to hear the full conversation. #healthsystem #clinicallaboratory #valuebasedcare #thoughtleadership

This is a great advancement in the ongoing pushback against the FDA's new rules for LDTs. With the Phase 1 deadline around the corner, we'll continue to provide updates on lawsuits and other legislative efforts that would limit the FDA's oversight authority. Check out the original post below for more details and be sure to reach out to Jon if you're interested in sponsoring this bill. #FDA #LDT #laboratorytesting

Check out this month's Lab Insighter for more on: ???? Taking your lab career to the next level ?? Details on our newest strategic partnership ?? The latest developments impacting lab and pathology reimbursements ?? Our February lab candidate spotlight ? And more Be sure to grab a copy or subscribe to receive this newsletter straight to your inbox each month! #healthcare #RCM #medicalbillingandcoding #clinicallaboratory

As part of our commitment to public health preparedness, Lighthouse is proactively developing and validating assays for the detection of Influenza A and the H5 subtype. These assays are specifically being designed to detect both past and recent strains of H5N1 while accounting for small mutations that may occur as the virus evolves. Our studies confirm that the assay meets the specificity and sensitivity requirements for clinical detection, as outlined by CLIA and FDA guidelines. "As the situation continues to change, we remain committed to ongoing monitoring and further validation to ensure our assays maintain the highest standards of performance," says Jon Harol, President and Co-Founder of Lighthouse Lab Services. #publichealth #laboratorymedicine #influenza #laboratorytesting

When was the last time your lab reviewed its managed care strategy? Many labs approach insurance contracting with a one-size-fits-all plan, but this often misses critical opportunities. A more effective approach, according to Dyana Williams, Director of Lighthouse RCM Solutions, is to start by identifying key players in your regional market—large employers, state employees, and their insurance providers. Rather than just focusing on broad networks, labs should target specific contracts that align with their patient demographics. Here are some other contracting strategies to consider: ?? Review Contract Language:?Collaborate with legal or consulting experts to understand your contract’s nuances before entering negotiations. Williams advises,?“A thorough review can uncover provisions that restrict unilateral changes or provide pathways for renegotiation that labs may not be utilizing.” ?? Negotiate Tiered Structures:?Gradually increasing reimbursement rates over time can be an attractive middle-ground for payers. When facing reductions from payers, negotiating for a gradual decrease over time can ease the financial impact to the lab. Support from hospital administration can strengthen your position in these discussions.?“Presenting a tiered approach often appeals to payers because it shows flexibility while protecting your revenue in the short term,”?adds Williams. ?? Leverage Proprietary Testing:?Highlighting unique or proprietary tests can demonstrate?added value?to payers, potentially securing better contract terms. ?? Consider Out-of-Network Strategies:?Despite regulatory constraints like the NSA, remaining out-of-network can be a viable option, depending on your lab’s circumstances and contractual obligations. Check out our full blog in the comments below for more tips, including a breakdown of common contracting challenges our experts encounter and how to navigate these obstacles. #medicalbilling #RCM #managedcare #hospitallaboratory

At Lighthouse Lab Services, we are always seeking to enhance the success of our clients by providing solutions that streamline operations and optimize financial performance. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new partnership with Inbox Health, a leader in AI-powered patient billing solutions designed specifically for medical laboratories. Through this collaboration, Lighthouse clients can now access cutting-edge technology that transforms patient billing into a seamless, transparent, and highly efficient process. By integrating Inbox Health’s intelligent automation, your lab can: ? Recover untapped revenue – Recover untapped revenue – Increase collection speeds by 60% in 60 days. Clear, itemized statements that patients easily understand reduce billing confusion, minimize errors, and accelerate payments. ? Enhance provider trust – Give referring physicians confidence that their patients will have a modern, hassle-free billing experience that reflects well on your lab. ? Reduce administrative burden – Reduce administrative burden – Cut the amount of time your team spends on patient A/R in half. Improve operational efficiency with automated statement generation, digital communications, and automated error detection. ? Lower costs & improve cash flow – Minimize expenses associated with traditional billing while increasing collection rates through an intuitive, one-step digital payment portal. Lighthouse remains committed to delivering comprehensive support for laboratories, and our partnership with Inbox Health is another step in ensuring you have access to the best tools available. If you’re ready to modernize your billing process and maximize your lab’s revenue potential, contact us today to learn how this solution can work for you. ?? Reach out to learn more about the benefits of this partnership! #medicalbilling #clinicallaboratory #strategicpartner #laboratorymedicine

Medical laboratory leaders are facing a wave of regulatory and legal challenges this year as the Trump Administration reshapes the federal government. With that in mind: What’s your lab's biggest concern right now? ?? Your input will help us understand what matters most to the labs we serve and guide how we can support the industry as we collectively navigate these changes. ?? Vote below and let us know your top issues! (Or feel free to drop a comment if there’s something we missed.) #MedicalLaboratory #LabManagement #RegulatoryCompliance #HealthcarePolicy #LaboratoryDevelopedTests