First few Article Sentences
On June 1, 2011, the State of Washington joined 17 other states in restricting the ability of physicians to purchase anatomic pathology services and re-bill the services to patients and payors. Prior to the enactment of House Bill 1190, which will be codified as a new section added to Chapter 48.43 RCW, state law did not clearly prohibit a physician from purchasing an anatomic pathology service at a discount from a pathology laboratory or other pathology provider, marking up the price of the anatomic pathology service, and re-billing the service to the physician’s patients and their payors. A 2005 Washington Attorney General Opinion raised serious concerns regarding this type of arrangement under the Washington fee splitting laws, but re-billing with a markup for purchased anatomic pathology services continued among many physicians, most commonly including urologists, gastroenterologists, and dermatologists, absent a specific statutory prohibition.