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Nation’s Biggest Health Insurer Announces Requirement that Molecular and Genetic Test Claims include Z-Codes as of August 1, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas (June 15, 2023) – Clinical laboratories across the nation are scrambling to meet a looming August 1 deadline that requires them to include Z-Codes with certain molecular and genetic test claims they submit to the nation’s largest health insurer. Labs that fail to comply may experience a major disruption in cash flow after implementation of this new requirement.

Announced last month by UnitedHealthcare, effective Aug. 1, genetic test claims associated with about 250 CPT codes must include a Z-Code issued by the MolDx Diagnostic Exchange (DEX) registry, operated by Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor. This announcement surprised many clinical labs and left them with only weeks to apply for the Z-Codes they need when submitting molecular test claims to UHC.

To help clinical labs meet their needs for swift Z-Code registration of their genetic tests, The Dark Report and DarkDaily are presenting a free, 90-minute webinar, “Essential Guide to Obtaining Z-Codes for Molecular and Genetic Tests” Thursday, June 29, at 1:00 PM EDT.

Keynote speaker is Gabriel Bien-Willner, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Palmetto GBA, as well as Medical Director of the Molecular Diagnostic Services Program (MolDx). He will provide an up-to-the-minute picture of the DEX MolDx Z-Code registry, including the application and documentation processes needed to register a molecular test and obtain a unique Z-Code for that test.

Second to speak is Valerie Collier, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor at ARUP Laboratories. She has been directly involved in helping ARUP Laboratories and its clients obtain Z-Codes for their new molecular and genetic tests. Collier’s insights and recommendations are based on four years of submitting applications to DEX MolDx, responding to the documentation requirements, and receiving Z-Codes for these new genetic tests.

Next to present is Kyle Fetter, Chief Operating Officer at XiFin, Inc. Since the inception of the MolDx and Z-Code programs more than a decade ago, Fetter and his team have worked with client laboratories to help them register their molecular and genetic tests and obtain Z-Codes. Fetter’s team also interacts regularly with other private health insurers and is tracking their plans to follow UHC’s lead and issue their own requirements that molecular test claims include Z-Codes.

Full details on the speakers, content, and how to register for this valuable, free webinar are at https://www.darkdaily.com. XiFin provided an Educational Grant in support of this webinar.

About The Dark Intelligence Group

Since 1995, The Dark Intelligence Group has been the leading source of exclusive and reliable business intelligence about clinical laboratories, pathology groups, and laboratory diagnostics. The Dark Intelligence Group is the publisher of Dark Daily and The Dark Report, and each spring The Dark Intelligence Group hosts the renowned Executive War College on Diagnostics, Clinical Laboratory and Pathology Management.