FAQs

 

What does a pathologist do?

Pathology is the study of disease. A pathologist is a medical doctor who, after high school, has finished a four year college degree, a four year medical degree, and trained for five or more years in a pathology residency training program. From a practical standpoint, the medical practice of pathology involves three separate areas: (1) Surgical pathology, where the pathologist uses a microscope to diagnose disease, including cancer, to allow the treating physician to appropriately treat the patient. This includes examining the specimen macroscopically, studying it microscopically, and correlating additional studies and clinical findings to make a diagnosis. (2). Clinical pathology, which includes the direct oversight of the clinical laboratory (blood and urine tests). The pathologist ensures the quality of the results by overseeing all quality control and assurance programs. He/she also plays a role in serving to direct clinicians on unusual test results and appropriate test ordering. Administrative and managerial functions are also part of this role. (3) Autopsy Pathology, which includes hospital, private, and forensic post-mortem examinations. An autopsy is a detailed examination of a deceased individual, with the purpose of disclosing the cause and manner of death.

 

I never saw a pathologist. Why am I getting a bill?

More than likely, your doctor sent a specimen to the laboratory for examination. You may have received a bill from York Pathology Associates, LLC under the billing company APS Medical Billing, based in Toledo, OH, then this was for a tissue sample removed by your doctor. This may have been a skin biopsy, breast biopsy, etc. Alternatively, you may have had a blood smear reviewed by a pathologist or other similar test performed. If your specimen came from a doctor’s office, you will likely receive only one bill from us (global bill) which includes both the technical charge for preparing the slides as well as the professional charge for interpreting your specimen. If you are a registered hospital patient, you will receive both a professional charge bill (from us) as well as a technical charge bill from one of our hospital affiliations. This latter bill will come directly from the hospital. Occasionally, special testing may have to be performed at a reference laboratory in another state, which may mean you could receive a bill from that laboratory.

 

What are professional component fees billed by York Pathology?
These are fees billed by the pathologist to the patient or patient insurance company for the laboratory management and oversight of the laboratory. (We use APS Medical Billing for these bills). A large portion of the pathologist’s time is spent ensuring the quality of laboratory results. Medicare pays these fees to the hospital, which then pays that portion of the patient fees to the pathologist, according to their negotiated arrangement. The pathologist bills the non-Medicare patients (or their insurance company) for this service directly. No payment is made by the hospital to the pathologist for this group of patients for these services. The patient will also have a hospital bill (technical charge) for the laboratory test, which covers laboratory supplies, equipment, and non-physician labor.

 

Where can I find a list of your contracted insurance plans?

We are contracted with numerous health plans.  Click HERE for the full list.

 

 

Frequently asked Questions (For Referring Physicians)

 

When will I receive results from my patient’s specimen?

Routine specimens including most biopsies from physician offices take 24 hours for completion.  Larger cases and those requiring additional studies are generally finished in 48 hours.

 

How will I receive my results?

Reports are faxed to the physician office.  Fax box to the office may allow integration into the physician’s electronic medical record.  Offices with VPN access to the hospital electronic medical record can access the reports directly, and print them in their office.