In This Issue:



• Upcoming webinars on payer policy conflicts and avoiding payer audits. Two unique events designed to protect lab revenue.
• Previewing our upcoming session at Executive War College, April 28-29.
• New guide offering troubleshooting tips to help maintain chemistry analyzers.
• Our March lab candidate spotlight.
• Exploring how 2024 MIPS scores are now impacting 2026 payments.
• Roundtable discussion on laboratory patents.

Upcoming Webinar: Payer Policy Conflicts & Guidelines -

Harmonizing LCDs, MolDx, and Commercial Plans

When LCDs, MolDx requirements, and commercial payer guidelines don’t align, laboratories are left navigating conflicting rules and preventable denials. In today’s regulatory environment, “close enough” compliance simply isn’t enough.

That’s why we’re hosting an upcoming webinar at noon EDT, Tuesday, March 31, to break down:

✔️ How these policies actually interact and overlap behind the scenes

✔️ Where disconnects commonly occur between billers and payers

✔️ When Z-Codes and technical assessments are required

✔️ How to respond when payer guidance conflicts

✔️ How AI can strengthen documentation and medical necessity support

If your lab is feeling the pressure of increasing audits or denials, this session will provide actionable strategies to protect reimbursement and revenue.

REGISTER HERE

Executive War College Preview: Balancing Compliance, Risk, and Revenue in Pain Management

If you're a pain management provider or manage a toxicology laboratory, you won't want to miss our breakout session at the upcoming Executive War College conference on April 28-29. Lighthouse President and CRO Ellen Beausang will present alongside Dr. Michael Sprintz of Cellarian and Elizabeth Sullivan of McDonald Hopkins to provide a practical solution to proactively assessing patient risk.

From a legal and clinical perspective, patient harm risk must remain central. Malpractice exposure rises when testing is inadequate or test results are not reviewed and incorporated into care plans. That’s why complete documentation matters even when you anticipate limited coverage.

Check out our recent guide for a preview of what our panel will cover during the conference.

Read More HERE>

Chemistry Analyzer Troubleshooting Guide and Practical Maintenance Tips

Troubleshooting chemistry analyzer issues is rarely about identifying a single obvious failure. Instead, it requires a systematic approach that evaluates calibration, quality control, consumables, instrument performance, and operational practices.

That said, there are numerous issues that can be diagnosed and even fixed with the proper approach. Check out a new troubleshooting framework used by our instrument specialists to identify and resolve common chemistry analyzer issues.

Read the full guide HERE>

Don't Forget: $150 Off Executive War College Registration

If you missed your chance to take advantage of early-bird pricing, you can still save $150 on your 2026 Executive War College Registration by using the promo code LLS150 during checkout.

We hope to see you there! Learn more and register HERE>

The Lighthouse "Candidate Corner" is a recurring monthly spotlight featuring some of the great lab professionals our recruiters work with each day. Check out a quick preview of one individual below, then click over to our blog to see all six candidates for March.

If you'd like to learn more about anyone listed in this section or inquire about their ability to relocate, email us directly here!

Candidate: Histotechnologist

• Education: 
• B.S. In Biology

• Certification:
• HT(ASCP)

• Preferred Location:
• Atlanta, GA.

View all candidates HERE>

Upcoming Webinar: How to Avoid Payer Audits - Tried and True Best Practices to Reduce Risk

Payer audits are no longer rare events reserved for large or high-risk laboratories. Many labs assume an audit will not happen to them, until it does. When it does, poor documentation, missing medical necessity, or disorganized submissions can trigger denied claims, delayed payments, and costly clawbacks.

In this free Dark Daily webinar at 1 pm EDT, April 8, Ann Lambrix of Lighthouse and Darla Wanitschke of TELCOR will break down why payer audits are accelerating, how Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and post-payment reviews actually work, and where labs most often fail during documentation and appeals.

Register HERE>

MIPS Payment Adjustments Now Impacting 2026 Medicare Reimbursements

If your lab or practice participated in the 2024 performance year of the Medicare Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), you should now be seeing those payment adjustments reflected in your current reimbursements.

Now is a good time to take a close look at remittance advice to confirm CMS is applying the correct adjustment. Errors can occur and result in either underpayments or overpayments if unnoticed.

Here’s what to look for:

✅ Positive MIPS adjustment: Your RA should include Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) 144 — “Incentive adjustment, e.g., preferred product/service.”

📉 Negative MIPS adjustment: Look for CARC 237 — “Legislated/Regulatory Penalty,” which will be accompanied by at least one remark code.

If you’re unsure whether your organization should be receiving a positive or negative adjustment, the best place to start is by reviewing your final 2024 MIPS score at qpp.cms.gov. A quick check now can help ensure your reimbursement is being calculated correctly and help avoid recoupments or underpayments down the line.

So, your laboratory has developed a new proprietary test or innovation. That's great! But, how do you know when it's appropriate and beneficial to apply for a patent for your product? And what's the best and most cost-effective way to go about it?

During this 5-minute roundtable discussion, Lighthouse Founder Jon Harol asks a panel of patent and lab innovation experts to weigh in on the issue and offer advice to lab owners based on their past experiences. Learn more about the timing of the decision, legal compliance, and other considerations before starting the process. 

Watch the discussion HERE>

Executive War College

• April 28-29, 2026
• New Orleans
• Hyatt Regency
• Learn more here

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