Splitting a Requisition into Multiple Reqs Destined for Multiple Labs.

Frequently, a single lab order from an ordering physician may need to be split among multiple labs to be fulfilled. The reasons may vary; due to an insurance requirement, the Physician Office Lab (POL) performs certain tests in-house, or the anatomic pathology orders needing to go to another system within a Lab. At other times a physician's office may prefer to invoice an insurance company directly, where state laws and insurance rules allow it, so the practice can capture 'markup' revenue even if the test is performed by an outside reference lab. From the lab's perspective this is referred to as "client billing" since the reference lab bills the physician as the client in lieu of billing the insurance company, known as "third party billing." If these lab orders are not properly separated and categorized at order entry, the potential for downstream compliance and reimbursement problems can be significant. Without a streamlined order entry process office workflow can also be negatively impacted, resulting in customer dissatisfaction.

Halfpenny Technologies offers hospitals, labs and physician offices, alike, the opportunity to split a single lab requisition into two or more requisitions, with or without an existing physician EHR system. This capability is not only valuable, but imperative as most physicians utilize multiple labs and route their test orders in accordance with the patient's insurance, type of tests required or their own preferences or billing practices.

Here's how Halfpenny generates split requisitions. If there is already an operating EHR system in place at the physician office that is capable of creating a clean compliant lab order, then Halfpenny receives the order from the EHR and splits it according to rules controlled by the user. The rules utilized for splitting may include by test type, CPT code, insurance, physician preference or specimen type. Halfpenny then prints two or more separate requisitions and manifests, depending on the client's workflow requirements. The order is next transmitted to the appropriate lab(s) and if the separate orders are going to the same performing lab, such as third party and client bill situations, the lab will receive two distinct orders so they can assign separate accession numbers and process accordingly. When the results are made available, Halfpenny rebundles the results and forwards them into the appropriate patient record within the EHR.

In situations where there is not a physician EHR system, or the EHR does not have the ability to create a clean compliant order, Halfpenny will implement ITF-Portal® or ITF-GoDoc® MobileOE which facilitates order entry directly and splits the requisition utilizing the same rules described above. ITF-Portal is a Web-based order entry and results reporting system that allows for the rapid search and retrieval of various clinical reports and is a fully functional CPOE solution. ITF-GoDoc MobileOE is a fully functional mobile CPOE solution that, like ITF-Portal, has the ability to capture billing data, ask-at-order entry questions, specimen types and medical necessity. In either scenario, the process works the same and results can be combined and incorporated into the EHR system if available or viewed within one or both of the Halfpenn solutions.

Key Benefits of Halfpenny's Split Requisitions:

• Requisitions are split at point of order and routed to the correct labs with the appropriate billing, order and patient information.
• Office can use their own EHR if it is capable of creating a valid order and Halfpenny will do the rest.
• Automatic routing to appropriate performing hospital or reference laboratories.
• Separate manifests and requisitions can be printed locally at ordering location to simplify patient and specimen processing.
• When received by lab, electronic orders from the Halfpenny Hub are already properly designated as "client bill" or "third party bill", minimizing rework, billing or compliance issues.

Click here to download information on our Split Requisition Solutions.