UnitedHealthcare recently announced plans to expand its pilot Lab Benefit Management Program to Texas, as of March 1, 2017. The pilot program, which is administered by BeaconLBS, was first launched in Florida in October 2014. Under the pilot, providers are required to use a tool called Physician Decision Support to order certain labs for UHC commercial members. The ACR continues to work with members in Florida and Texas to advocate against this program and the burden it places on practices.
Physician Decision Support is currently integrated with 10 electronic medical record applications. Providers who are not using an integrated application are required to log into BeaconLBS.com directly to complete the questionnaire and order certain tests, including many that are frequently ordered by rheumatologists, such as antinuclear antibody (ANA), human leukocyte antigen B27 and systemic lupus erythematosus profile tests.
A complete list of the Physician Decision Support tests is available on the UHC lab benefit management program website.
Please contact ACR staff if you have questions or would like additional information.