Digital Pathology Blog

Executive War College to hold Digital Pathology Symposium

From Dark Daily:

Pathologists Soon to say Sayonara to Glass Slides!

March 26, 2009

Digital Pathology Imaging: Coming Soon to a Pathology Group near You!

Will pathologists soon say "sayonara" to glass slides? Plenty of smart money already bets the answer to that question is "yes"! Every pathologist in the United States and abroad should be watching developments in whole slide imaging and digital pathology systems. That's because digital pathology imaging is a trend with momentum-and it also has the potential to be disruptive, although probably not in the short term.

One powerful sign that digital imaging in pathology is ready to go mainstream is the take-up of digital imaging solutions and digital pathology systems by leading pathology laboratories in the United States and developed countries across the globe. These are academic and tertiary center pathology labs, along with major private pathology companies. As the pathology profession's first-movers and early adopters, it is these laboratories which set the pace for the entire profession. Their acceptance and growing use of digital imaging and digital pathology systems can be taken as evidence that the current generation of imaging and informatics technologies perform adequately.

However, there is another powerful force propelling digital imaging forward in anatomic pathology. It is the emergence of molecular assays which incorporate digital images and use either computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) or pattern recognition software to help the pathologist make a precise diagnosis. By design, these molecular tests require the pathologist to work from a digital image of the specimen. At The Dark Report's  second annual Molecular Summit on the Integration of In Vivo and In Vitro Diagnostics, conducted last February in Philadelphia, examples of these types of emerging assays were abundant.

Thus, the movement to adopt digital imaging and digital pathology systems is propelled forward by three discrete forces:

*One, acceptance and adoption of digital imaging and digital pathology by larger pathology laboratories, with the goal of assisting pathologists' work flow, improving pathologist productivity and quality, and having digital images available to share with other clinicians and to populate an electronic patient record.

*Two, as the foundation for emerging molecular assays and tests, where a digital image of the processed specimen is then assessed by computer-aided diagnosis or pattern recognition software that helps the pathologist make an accurate diagnosis.

*Three, the major vendors of anatomic pathology laboratory information systems (LIS) have already written interfaces that allow the leading digital imaging and digital pathology systems to integrate with their pathology LIS products. These pathology LIS vendors recognize that digital pathology images are now "prime time" for their larger pathology customers.

And don't forget! Last year, General Electric  and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center  (UPMC) formed a joint venture. Each ponied up $20 million to create Omnyx, LLC, which is developing whole-slide imaging and a fully digital pathology system. At the press conference announcing the formation of Omnyx last spring, GE officials stated that they expect the market for whole slide imaging and digital pathology systems to be $2 billion.

These are important reasons why every pathology practice should be tracking the profession's uptake of digital imaging and digital pathology systems. It is no longer a question of whether or not a group should acquire digital imaging capability. Digital imaging technology is now robust-and some digital systems are affordable even for two- and three-pathologist groups! Rather, today's question is "when" a pathology group will make the investment in capital and time to acquire and use digital imaging and/or a fully digital pathology system.

That is why the upcoming Executive War College on Laboratory and Pathology Management  has organized a special, one-day workshop on Thursday, April 30, in New Orleans, titled: "Saying Sayonara to Glass Slides! Everything You Need to Know about Digital Imaging and Digital Pathology Systems." At one place and in one day, you'll hear case studies from pathology groups already using digital imaging and listen to one of the leading pathology LIS vendors discuss issues and opportunities when interfacing the pathology LIS with either or both digital imaging and digital pathology systems.

Best of all, we've assembled six of the leading companies in digital pathology to introduce you to their products and discuss how they help improve the productivity of pathologists and the precision of diagnoses. Expected to participate, in alphabetical order, are Aperio Technologies, Inc. ; BioImagene, Inc. ; DMetrix, Inc. ; Milestone Medical, Inc. ; SlidePath, Inc. ; and Applied Spectral Imaging, Inc.  (invited). There will also be a special two-hour exhibition where you can meet these vendors and explore the capabilities of their products and systems.

For every pathology group practice and laboratory, this "Saying Sayonara to Glass Slides" event is the perfect opportunity! At one time, gathered in one place, you can learn from users like you, hear from the pathology IT vendors, and see the products and people from all the major companies in this fast-moving field.

Is your group thinking about investing in digital imaging or a digital pathology system? Then this is your "must attend" opportunity! Kick the tires of the major vendors. Meet the important players in this field. Learn from pathology groups already using these solutions. Best of all, there is still time to take advantage of the early bird discount on registration. Use this registration and agenda link to guarantee your place at this vital event and benefit from the early-bird discount!

Related Information:

Convergence of In Vivo Imaging and Digitized Pathology Is Under Way
 

Recent article entitled "Digital Pathology is Growing Despite Fears"
 

Dark Report: Momentum Continues for Digital Pathology
 

Brand new! Just released is a full color program agenda PDF. (or paste this URL into your browser: http://www.executivewarcollege.com/PDFs/09brochure.pdf )

Early-Bird Discount Registration now available online

Visit http://www.executivewarcollege.com

Download Full Program Agenda

Four Easy Ways to Register:
1. Register ONLINE
2. Call 800-560-6363. Our friendly staff can register you quickly and easily, as well as answer any questions you may have.
3. Fax this complete registration form to 512-264-0969
4. Mail the one page form with payment to:

THE DARK REPORT
21806 Briarcliff Dr.
Spicewood, TX 78669

It is the first time all these major players in digital imaging and digital pathology systems have assembled in one place at one time, specifically to discuss the advances in this field. It is your perfect opportunity to gather all the information you need to develop your pathology group's strategy.

Invitation to SlidePath Webinar

From SlidePath - an invitation to join them at an upcoming Webinar:

SlidePath, Inc would like to invite you to join us at one of their upcoming Webinars.

Webinars are a great way to find out about our innovative software for Image management, Image Analysis  and e-learning tools.

Presentations last about 45 min to an hour

If you're not able to attend but would like to see our offering, call or e-mail them to set up an alternate date and time.

Feel free to pass this along to anyone that you think may be interested

                 
             Webinar Agenda

• Intended use of the software
• Features and benefits
  
• Case studies
• Image and device support
• customization
  
• technical support
• Q and A session

                                                                   

               Distiller    Scalable software for data and image management

                OpTMA     Automated High Throughput Analysis of TMAs

               Tissue IA   Image Analysis for biomarker quantification

                SlideBox   Interactive e-learning tool for anatomic pathology

Slidepath software is web based, so images and data can be viewed with Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera and other commonly used browsers

WEBINAR SCHEDULE    

April 2, 2009   TIME: 11:00 AM  Eastern Time U.S                                      

Products:    Distiller,  OpTMA, Tissue IA

 

April 3, 2009  TIME: 11:00 AM Eastern Time U.S.

Products: SlideBox, the e-learning tool

 

TO  PARTICIPATE: Please RSVP to: martin.perry@slidepath.com 
You will receive a confirmation with a link to sign on, and instructions for joining the webinar
    

Courtesy of:                                                                               
Martin J Perry
Slidepath, Inc.
martin.perry@slidepath.com                                                     
516.582.1873

Research suggests mutations located in ten genetic loci may predispose individuals to sudden cardiac death

AFP (3/23) reported, "Scientists combing the human genome have discovered...common genetic mutations that boost the risk of sudden cardiac" death (SCD) and ventricular arrhythmias, according to two recently published studies published online Mar. 22 in the journal Nature. "Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide, claiming upward of 17 million lives every year," data collected by the World Health Organization reveal. It has been well documented that "smoking, obesity, and high cholesterol are common risk factors, but genes can be a critical factor too." So, "in the absence of symptoms, identifying genetic variants that affect the timing of heart contractions -- known as the 'QT interval' -- could become a critical means of predicting the likelihood of sudden cardiac death."

 

For the first study, one international team comprised of some 40 scientists, including investigators from Johns Hopkins University, decided to analyze "the genomes of 15,842 individuals whose QT intervals were measured," CBC News (3/23) added. The goal was matching "subtle changes in gene sequence with abnormal patterns of heart contraction." Eventually, "after screening 2.5 million genetic markers for variations that change the QT interval, they found alterations at 10 locations," Canada's Globe and Mail (3/23, Bielski) reported. Four of the variations came as a surprise, as the group "had no clue" they "were involved in cardiac biology at all," Hopkins' team member Dan Arking, PhD, pointed out.

 

In total, "14 gene variants," located "in 10 different gene regions," were implicated, HealthDay (3/23, Preidt) clarified. "A companion study in the same issue of Nature Genetics looked at more than 15,000 people and confirmed 12 of the 14 variants identified in the first study," while pinpointing "two additional gene regions." Study author Christopher Newton-Cheh, MD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital, commented, "We were very reassured to see such strong replication in two independent studies."

 

According to MedPage Today (3/23, Gever), both teams "confirmed that variants in the NOS1AP gene, encoding nitric oxide synthase adapter protein, were significantly associated with cardiac repolarization. In addition, the following genes were identified as helping to predict QT interval abnormalities: KCNQ1, a potassium channel gene; KCNH2, a potassium channel gene; KCNJ2, a potassium channel gene; SCN5A, a sodium channel gene; ATP1B1, maintains sodium and potassium gradients; PLN, regulates sarcoplasmic ATPase; LITAF, encodes a DNA-binding protein, CNOT1 region," and RNF207, which both have "functions [that are] uncertain." Dr. Newton-Cheh explained that "the 10 genes explained 5.4 percent of the variation in QT intervals in Framingham Heart Study participants and 6.5 percent among people in the Rotterdam study." Yet, the "genes were less predictive in the Cardiovascular Health Study, explaining 2.3 percent of QT interval variation."

 

Still, team member Gonçalo Abecasis, from the University of Michigan, "commented that these associations could be important in tailoring drug treatments," MedWire (3/23, Price) noted. "Changes in QT interval are common side effects of cardiac drugs, often leading to investigational drugs being dropped. Thus, these new risk loci could identify patients at particular risk for such complications with established drugs, as well as aiding development of drugs that avoid these complications in the first place."

Pathoindia turns 10 years old

Congratulations to www.pathoindia.com on turning 10 years old.

From the website:

"The greater the loyalty of a group toward the group, the greater is the motivation among the members to achieve the goals of the group, and the greater the probability that the group will achieve its goals."  Rensis Likert.

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Website sponsored by Dr. John Marshall Johnson, since 1999.

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Patho-India - the virtual pathology community of India with a membership of about 2000 was founded on Feb 25th 1999 by Dr. John Marshall Johnson, MD. 

Aim: To bring all the pathologists in India online, on one common interactive platform, so as to share and participate in the active Telepathology quiz and group discussions; collaborate on projects; publish their articles on website; receive information about conferences, CME, etc.

Target group: Pathologists in India and the rest of the world.

Pathoindia is an easy way to keep in touch with all the pathologists in India and abroad. Pathoindia invites all pathologists and postgraduate students in India and across the world to join now and become a part of the virtual pathology community of India.

Membership is free.

Pathoindia Committee & Moderators

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Disclaimer:

This website is for academic and research purpose only. The information on this website is intended to provide info to pathologists and the medical fraternity only. Only members who would like to share their contact info with the general public have been published on the website directory.

Note to general public:
- The information provided on Pathoindia is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician.
- Our site does not use cookies. We do not accept advertisements.

News items from CAP

Several newsworthy items in this recent mailing from CAP.

Of note, a couple items pertinent to digital pathology including dermatopathology survey, a pre-conference workshop at the upcoming Futurescape meeting on digital pathology and early announcements for CAP '09.

CAP Member Wins American Cancer Society’s Star of
Hope Award
Richard N. Eisen, MD, FCAP, was awarded the American Cancer Society’s Star of Hope award, which honors doctors who "demonstrate excellence in providing compassionate and skilled care for people facing cancer and their unyielding contribution in the cancer fight." The article illustrates how pathologists are an integral part of the medical team. The chief of oncology at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut, said he’s worked with Dr. Eisen for 15 years and couldn’t image working without him at their hospital. Dr. Eisen’s recognition of his work is a great example of transformation of the specialty.
Read the full article

Revised Cancer Protocols—Coming Soon
Cancer protocols containing the 7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/International Union Against Cancer (UICC) cancer staging elements will be released by the CAP mid- to late- summer 2009. Let your IT staff know now to prepare for these upcoming changes.
Learn more about the Cancer Protocols

YOUR COLLEGE NEWS

CAP ’09 Abstracts Program — Deadline Is March 27, 2009
With the deadline fast approaching, consider submitting an abstract or case study. Submissions to the Abstracts Program will be accepted through Friday, March 27, 2009, at 11:59 PM. The CAP ’09 Abstracts Program is a competitive program that is designed to promote a broad range of research in pathology. The program provides a unique opportunity to enhance research skills and contribute to the literature and advancement of pathology. Everyone is encouraged to submit abstracts, and CAP Junior Members are eligible for cash awards for their presentations. Visit the CAP ’09 website for more information.

 New Addition to the CAP Transformation
Web Site
Don’t miss the latest pathologist story of
Dennis D. Reinke, MD, FCAP, whose dedication to the specialty of pathology led him to receive the Pathologist Spotlight Award from the College.
Stay tuned for new photos and additions to the Real Story featuring Yvonne R. Hearn, MD, FCAP.

New Dermatopathology Survey
The CAP online digital slide program in dermatopathology offers valuable benefits to assess and improve your diagnostic abilities:

• Two releases, each with five diagnostic challenges—earn 5.0 CME credits per year
• Digital image technology, simulates the use of a microscope and allows scanning and magnification changes
• Challenges are completed online, on your terms, when and where you want
• Instant feedback—you’ll know immediately whether or not your diagnosis is correct
• First release in June

Enroll in the Dermatopathology CAP Survey today. Call 800-323-4040
option 1.

Save the Date: Lab Week Is
April 19–25, 2009
National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (April 19–25, 2009) is a special time set aside to recognize the important role that pathologists and other medical laboratory professionals play in treating patients. This year's theme is "Laboratory Professionals Get Results." Important information to help you promote National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in your community and to your co–workers will be featured at the CAP website in April. Stay tuned to the CAP website for more information.

 

The CAP Foundation

Thinking about Digital Imaging for
Your Practice?
Attend the Digital Imaging Pre-Conference Workshop at Futurescape III—Transforming Pathology: Information as a Disruptive Technology, June 12–14 in Rosemont, Illinois. This hands-on experience will reveal how these systems can be used in your practice. For more information, contact Arlene Strong at 800-323-4040 ext. 7324.

New Pilot Program Available for Resident Research Grant Projects
A one-year pilot program created to provide financial resources for basic science and clinical research projects for residents and those in fellowships has been launched.
Learn more.

Call for Nominations Lansky Award for Leadership—Deadline:
May 1, 2009
Know a great candidate for the Lansky Award for Leadership? The CAP Foundation is currently accepting nominations.
Learn more.

Download the March NewsPath^® Podcast and Article
Listen to the March NewsPath^® podcast on "The Role of KRAS Mutation Testing in the Management of Colorectal Cancer," by special contributor, Mark D. Pool, MD, FCAP, and presented by CAP Spokesperson, Soon Bahrami, MD, FCAP. Both the article and podcast were based on the CAP POET report on the same topic. Share the information with your clinical colleagues during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in March.

Sign Up for CAP '09 and Take Advantage of the Early Bird Savings
Sign up now for CAP '09 – THE Pathologists' Meeting™, October 11–14 at the Gaylord National Resort in Washington, DC, and receive the best price guaranteed! Pay $899 and save 20% off the $1,125 global fee. No deposit required. Visit cap2009.org today and save!

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

CMS Technical Problem with New PQRI Code
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified a technical problem with the new PQRI 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) CPT II code. For pathologists, the PQRI code affected is 3250F, which non-primary site specimens for the Breast and Colorectal Cancer reporting measures. CMS carriers rejected these line items as unprocessable. More information is available on the CMS website.

View the New and Updated Practice Management Resources
The following is a list of new and updated practice management resources and each resource is listed by practice management topic area.

• Compliance and Risk Management
  • CMS Fraud & Abuse Resource List — A four-page summary of Fraud & Abuse topics and available resources.
  • HIPAA Privacy Rule and Health Information Technology — guidance documents that discuss how the Privacy Rule can facilitate the electronic exchange of health information
  • Medicolegal Issues in Pathology
  • Liability and Payment Issues in the Selection of Pathology Assays
• Human Resources
  • National Provider Identifier (NPI) — Apply or Update your NPI on the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES)

Suite of SNOMED CT Courses Now Available in Self–Directed Format
SNOMED Terminology Solutions™ (STS™) now offers many of the popular, core SNOMED CT classes—SNOMED CT: An Introduction; SNOMED CT: Concept Model; SNOMED CT: Data Structure (Relational) Model, and SNOMED CT: An Introduction to Nursing Content in the new self–directed format. The new platform allows users a convenient way to learn about SNOMED CT at their own pace (or when their motivation is at its highest), without being tied to a scheduled time or place. It also gives students an economical option for learning, since it eliminates the traditional costs associated with travel and instructor expenses. To enroll in the self–directed courses, users should visit the STS online course catalog and create an account to register. STS also offers classroom sessions and Web teleconferences, and all education services can be customized.
Please note: The CAP Education activities will be unavailable March 14 through March 22 while the learning management system is upgraded. Please enroll after March 23, 2009.

SNOMED CT in Pathology and Cancer Work Registry Scheduled for May
The SNOMED CT in Pathology and Cancer Work Registry Web Teleconference will be offered 10:00–11:30 AM CST, May 18, 2009. This introductory 90–minute Web–based program will address SNOMED CT's structure and content coverage and its use in the surgical pathology cancer checklists as adapted from the College of American Pathologist's Cancer Protocols. The presenter also will review US government initiatives in biomedical informatics as related to SNOMED CT. For more information, call 800-323-4040 ext. 7700 or 847–832–7700, or contact snomedsolutions@cap.org.
Please note: The CAP Education activities will be unavailable March 14 through March 22 while the learning management system is upgraded.

RESIDENTS SECTION

Residents Forum Meeting in Boston–Resounding Success
Resident colleagues headed to Boston the weekend of March 6–7 to the Welcome Reception on Friday evening and for the all-day Saturday session. Transformation was a key theme. Visit CAP for Residents at the CAP website for the latest information.

SPOKESPERSONS NETWORK IN THE MEDIA AND
IN THE COMMUNITY

Pathologist Takes Steps to Keep Local Hospital Free from MRSA Infections
James R. Miller, MD, FCAP, is featured by the Salem Times Commoner Newspaper in Salem, Illinois, demonstrating a new technology, GeneXpert, which he is using to keep his local hospital free from MRSA infections. The article is a great example of how a pathologist is recognized for using technology to help transform the role of specialty in the media as well as in preventing the spread of MRSA.
Read the full article.

 

 

 

Introduction to Definiens TissueMap 3.0 - Webinar Announcement

		Topics covered: • Automatic nuclear, membrane, and cytoplasm bio‑ marker quantitation in whole tissue sections and tissue microarrays • Customization of image analysis routines • User-defined, multi-parametric data output • Sneak preview of upcoming machine learning          functionality   Title:   Introduction to Definiens TissueMap 3.0       Date:   Tuesday, March 31, 2009       Time:   11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT After registering you will receive a confirmation email   containing information about joining the Webinar.   System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista Macintosh®-based attendees                                        Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer   Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/723770690

Dr. Victor Reuter to be keynote speaker at Pathology Visions 2009

PATHOLOGY VISIONS 2009 Marriott Hotel and Marina San Diego, California September 13-15, 2009   CONTACT INFORMATION www.pathologyvisions.com info@pathologyvisions.com  760.539.1193 REGISTRATION SITE www.goldreg.com/visions09 HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT 2008 ATTENDEES HAD TO SAY: "I am excited to come back next year to see the advances in digital pathology." "Great meeting - I learned a lot about the practical applications in digital pathology."

Keynote Speaker Announced  Victor E. Reuter, M.D. Vice Chairman, Department of Pathology Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Dr. Reuter is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology and has practiced surgical pathology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for the past 25 years. Dr. Reuter is a recognized expert in the field of Genitourinary Pathology, having served as author of hundreds of peer-reviewed journal publications, multiple book chapters, and invited lecturer at national and international conferences. Registration Is Now Open Join us September 13-15 at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina in beautiful downtown San Diego, CA, for stimulating discussion about the uses of digital pathology in research, clinical, and drug discovery applications. Register before April 30 and receive the early registration rate of $499. Registration includes admission to all meals, social events, sessions, posters, and the exhibit hall. Call for Abstracts New in 2009 - Scientific Posters! Poster presenters will be given a two-day display opportunity. Outstanding posters will be recognized. Abstracts are now being accepted in the following areas:  Business Case/Reimbursements Clinical Pathology Cytology Disease-Specific Diagnostic Pathology Education Frozen Sections Hematopathology Image Analysis Immunohistochemistry (IHC) IT Telepathology Toxicologic Pathology Deadline for priority consideration is June 1. To submit your abstract, click here. For more information, visit www.pathologyvisions.com

Omnyx story in local Pittsburgh publication, adding 15 employees this year

From Pop City March 18, 2009 - written by Debra Diamond Smit:

 

"Years of peering at  glass slides in microscopes will finally join the digital age with technology being developed by North Side’s Omnyx LLC.

Omnyx plans to hire 15 people this year in anticipation of its medical imaging platform that will digitize tissue samples. The last frontier of digital medical technology, digitized tissue software technology is expected to roll out in 2010.

Omnyx, a 9-month-old partnership of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and GE  Healthcare, currently employs 40 people in three offices including 25 in Pittsburgh. 

Digitized tissue samples have always posed a challenge because the resolution and the file-size needed is extraordinary, explains Tony Melanson, vice president of Strategy and Marketing.

“We’re very fortunate at Omnyx to have unprecedented access to clinical experts who will make our product a success,” he adds. “You never want to go into an innovation challenge without strong engineers and the partnership gives us great access to clinical research at UPMC and the technology that comes out of GE’s global research center.”

Omnyx also works with Carnegie Mellon University through the Human Computer Interaction Program, which is collaborating on aspects of the pathology workflow to digital.

The new technology will eliminate the painstaking physical process of moving slides around and increase efficiency and speed, opening up a whole new world of diagnostic opportunities. The quality of diagnosis will vastly improve as a result."

Nanotechnology may eventually benefit patients with inoperable cancers

BBC News (3/10) reported, "Nanotechnology has been used for the first time to destroy cancer cells with a highly targeted package of 'tumor busting' genes," and it "could potentially offer hope to people with hard-to-treat cancers where surgery is not possible." Detailing their work, researchers in the UK explained that first they wrapped the genes "in microscopic nano-particles 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, which were taken up by cancer cells, but not their healthy neighbors." Then, "once inside, the genes stimulated production of a protein which destroys the cancer," the authors added. Specifically, "the gene enclosed in the particle recognizes the cancerous environment and switches on." Although the "result is toxic," it only impinges on "the offending cells, leaving healthy tissue unaffected," whereas "traditional chemotherapy indiscriminately kills cells in the affected area of the body, which can cause side effects like fatigue, hair loss, or nausea."

CMS Agrees to Suspend Implementation of Phase VIII MUE's Claims Payment

Courtesy of the American Pathology Foundation.  Good news for pathologists concerning reimbursement codes, particularly for the one most widely used for biopsies. 

APF NEWS ALERT!

CMS Agrees to Suspend Implementation of Phase VIII MUE's Claims Payment   For Immediate Release                                                 March 17, 2009                                                                      On Friday, March 13, 2009, officials from CMS agreed to temporarily suspend implementation of Phase VIII MUE's, including those CPT codes of most interest and concern to pathologists--such as the 88305.  This decision followed a frank and fruitful meeting between representatives of the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) and the College of American Pathologists (Stephen Black-Shaffer, MD, Vice-Chair of the CAP's Economic Affairs Committee).   CMS agreed to schedule a follow-up discussion to better understand and address the concerns of pathologists and the clinical laboratory industry about the lack of transparency, among other things, with the current MUE review process.   Contact the APF National Office with any questions you have regarding this message:  info@apfconnect.org or 877-993-9935